Menu

Mud Galleries (small mud tunnels) underneath floor boards (sub floors) 

A large Termite Colony can cause a significant amount of damage within 12 months. The Australian Standards 3660 recommends homes and other structures have at least annual inspections to minimize building damage and expensive building repairs in the future. If you haven’t had a licensed Termite Inspector carry out an inspection in well over a year, then book a professional right away as it will be $200 well spent.

In addition to these professional inspections, owner vigilance, including checks, are important.

Handy Hints on Identification

Always check all timber frames inside the home, ie. skirting boards, architraves, mantle pieces, timber door and window frames. Look for blistered paint, rippled or bulging wall linings or mud packing emerging from timber joints or gyprock walls.

For external perimeters or sub floor areas, check for mud galleries (small mud tunnels) against foundation walls, piers and edges of concrete slabs.

These are HIGH RISK AREAS to be aware of so you can minimize the risk of attack from termites:

• formwork timbers left beneath suspended concrete patios, bathrooms, fireplaces and steps;
• stored timber or cardboard in contact with the ground in subfloor;
• stored timber alongside the house should be stored away as far as possible;
• damp soil – due to poor drainage, lack of cross flow ventilation, leaking pipes or shower recesses;
• inaccessible areas or low to ground flooring voids where a thorough inspection is impossible;
• construction of retaining walls with railway sleepers;
• bushland and/or large trees in close proximity to your home.

If any of these above areas are related to you, make sure you get one of our licensed and experienced Termite Consultants to carry out a full termite inspection, supply you with a written report and give you recommendations to reduce or remove high risk areas.

Termite damage to External Roof 

Termite damage to Internal Roof Void – risk of collapse  

 
Termite Biology

Termites are social insects and live in colonies which can number 100’s of thousands. Each colony has a King and Queen. The Queen can lay up to 2,000 eggs per day. The workers and soldiers are castes most commonly encountered when termite activity is discovered which can be up to 100 metres from the nest.

They work 24 hours a day. They travel thru mud shelter tubes to keep them hidden from predators such as spiders and ants but also enables them to avoid drying out and dying.

Termite colonies release winged reproductions called Alates. These Alates can become Kings or Queens. They have a darker body than normal termites. Termites in general have a typical whitish often almost clear body.

In spring on warm humid evenings, these Alates swarm from their nesting sites out of trees, stumps, telegraph poles and even within houses to find their own locations to provide their own colony.

The workers are the sterile males and females that feed the colony, rear the young and they enlarge the nest. They are the only castes that can chew and digest cellulose in wood.

The soldiers are sterile males and females. Their main function is to protect the colony. Soldiers cannot feed themselves and are dependant on the workers for their nutrition.

Solutions

 Most Pest Control Companies use the same chemicals, baiting systems and dusts, it’s the operator with his/her level of training and experience that differs.

Pestige Solutions has Termite Specialists who are highly trained and have 3 rd Generation knowledge for Termite protection and total termite management.

There are 3 main methods in protecting your home or workplace against termites:-

1. Soil Barrier Treatments

This is done by applying a termiticide liquid chemical around all foundation walls and piers that are in contact with the soil. Where filled concrete areas are located a drilling and injection method is carried out.

The termiticides we use in Soil Barrier Treatments are Termidor and Biflex Ultra.

Termidor – Is made from a revolutionary non repellent or “undetectable” chemical technology treatment that means termites cannot see, smell, taste or avoid. After Termidor is applied, termites that contact it transfer it to every other termite they in turn contact in a unique process called the “transfer effect”. Because Termidor is engineered to be slow-acting, Termites have ample time to spread it throughout their entire termite population. Termidor is the Number 1 Ter miticide on the market today. For more information see www.termidor.com.au.

Biflex Ultra – Is a low odour liquid repellent ter miticide which is applied in exactly the same way as any soil barrier treatment. It is more cost effective than Termidor and it lasts longer in the soil giving you more value for money. Biflex Ultra is registered to be used for not only termites but all our general pests as well. For more information on Biflex Ultra see www.fmcaustralasia.com.au.

2. Termite Baiting & Monitoring Systems  

Sentricon – Is a ‘Termite Colony Elimination System’. It is a termite baiting and monitoring system which is installed around the external perimeters of and on any active termite areas within your home. It is a complete system designed to protect homes from termites by eliminating the termite colony. Unlike liquid chemical treatments the Sentricon system requires no drilling in your home and has no chemicals pumped into it. The Sentricon termite colony elimination system once installed uses a three step process:

Monitor Bait Eliminate

This is repeated as more termites nests are detected in the future. For more information see www.sentricon.com.au.

 Exterra – Termite Interception and Baiting System. It also works as a baiting and monitoring system. Exterra uses a different bait called Requiem and the advantages with Exterra’s stations is that the termites are not disturbed when the baiting procedure is carried out. This is due to the design of their Exterra Stations. Australian Studies show that once the Termites start feeding on Requiem they stop feeding on timber in your home. For more information see www.exterra.com.au.

 3. Termite Dusting  

Intrigue Dust contains Triflumuron, which inhibits the production of Chitin, necessary for the production of new ……….., in insects. Intrigue is applied by a licensed Pest Manager to termite galleries and tunnels in wood. The Dust is puffed into, and travels through, the tunnels coating termites in a fine layer of dust. Termites return to the nest and pass the dust around through actual grooming and feeding. Intrigue Dust has taken over the use of arsenic dust, it is non irritant and has no odour. For more information see www.bayercropscience.com.au.  

Book you local Pest Control professionals now