Frequently Asked Questions About Termites

Termite FAQ’s Answered!

smiling-mal1. How do I know if I  have termites in my house?

 Swarming termites or Alates inside your house may be a sign of a bigger problem. Flying reproductive termites swarm from October until February. Inside the home, they drop their wings. Window sills and door frames and skirting boards should be checked for damage. Termites often eat the timber but  leave the paint to protect themselves from predators and drying out. It may be necessary to open small holes in damaged timbers to see if termites are present. If you find flying termites or termites on the carpet or floor call our Talk to a Tech number or upload photos of your findings to our technician for a fast ID.

2. If I have termites in my house, what do I do?

First, do not panic. Although termites can cause severe damage, they work slowly. Your house will not collapse overnight.  If you find termites, don’t disturb them!  This helps with identification of the species. They are easily disturbed and may leave the area. Termites which have been undisturbed can be treated with Termidor Dust to eliminate the colony from your home.

3. If Neighbour has termites in their house. Will I get termites?

If your neighbours’ house has termites, this does not mean your house will have them. However it is not unusual for after a termite treatment that an adjoining house will be infested. It does mean that your house is at above average risk of a termite infestation. It is a good idea to have your home inspected at least annually and to keep your termite treatment up to date. Treatments last around 8 years. We recommend re-treatment prior to the expiration of the life expectancy. We only use Termidor.

4. How do I tell the difference between termites and ants?

The main differences between ants and termites are that ants have a clearly defined head, thorax and abdomen with constrictions between them ( like wasps) while termites are broadly joined between the thorax and abdomen. In other words, ants have a narrow or pinched waist and termites do not. The front and hind wings of termites are approximately equal in size while the hind wings of ants are much smaller than their front wings.

5. My house is only new, could I get termites?

Many houses have remained termite free for years while some new houses get termites in just a few months. Our business has treated numerous building under five years old that have been infested with termites. If your house has a termite infestation shortly after it has been built it could be due to many reasons such as construction techniques, landscaping, plants and shrubs, moisture leaks and renovations.  You are required to have at least annual inspections carried out in your new home or your warranty is Void and your builder will not take responsibility for the damage. How long since your home was properly inspected?

6. I heard that if I find ants around my house, I won’t get termites. Is this correct?

No, there is no correlation between the two. While both will favour similar habitats, such as mulch beds, wood piles, etc., they are mortal enemies of one another, and finding one does not mean that the other is soon to follow.

7. How do subterranean termites get into a house?

Very easily. All they need is a tiny gap in the brick work or around services such as electricity and water pipes . They may enter directly from the soil, or they may build airtight tubes leading from their colony in the soil to the wood of your house. A house is a large target to a termite.

8. Are baits better or worse than conventional termiticide treatment to the soil?

Termite baits are an old technology for termite control with new products being released from time to time. They all rely on termites finding and entering plastic pots buried in the gardens ( Monitoring Stations ) up to 4 or maximum 6 metres apart to feed on timber inside the pots, then having the special growth regulators applied to the stations. Then it’s hit or miss whether termites feed on the products selected. If installed, monitored and maintained correctly, baits can be used as another tool to control termites. Whether or not they work better than liquid treatments to soil, will be debated by pest control  firms. What is certain is that baits will cost more than traditional Barrier Treatments and you won’t get the peace of mind provided by products such as Termidor. Liquid treatments to soil are used to kill termites quickly and to create a barrier to prevent entry or re-entry into a structure. Liquid termiticides give quicker results, than baits, even when compared with the newer non-repellent termiticides that are available. Baits on the other hand, can take from a few months to 1 or 2 years to control termites. It depends on how long it takes the termites to find the bait stations. Some advantages for bait technology are they can be installed in a short amount of time, its less intrusive, they may be your only choice for homes with construction issues and if you want a limited amount of pesticide applied in or around your home, baits might be your control method of choice.

9. If I put mulch in the flowerbeds against my house, will it attract termites?

Any source of cellulose would be attractive to termites. Damp conditions under layers of mulch are ideal habitat for termites. Landscape mulch, preferably Cypress Mulch  should be used sparingly and care should be taken not to place mulch against wood siding, weep holes or slab edges

10. Our house was treated just a few years ago. Why do we have termites again?

Firstly, this is a rare occurrence after a Termite Solutions Termidor treatment.  When a chemical is applied professionally, and to manufacturers specification by an experienced licensed termite technician, it should give you control for at least five years.  Drill holes in concrete should be close to the walls, say 75mm. and close to each other, less than 20cm for Termidor. The further the drill holes are apart, the more chance of termites returning. If the house was not treated to the above specifications, or the soil barrier was disturbed, then Termites foraging in the soil may find an opening in the barrier allowing termites entry back into your house.  This rarely happens with Termidor. Ensuring that drill holes are close together and trenches reach the footings is the key.

 

There are several other important facts about termites and termite treatments that you should know, that most termite companies won’t tell you or don’t know, but we’ll explain them all to you when you book in an inspection with us on Freecall 1800 009 229.

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