Hi guys.
I was wondering how you tell if WA termites or borers are still in a peice of timber.
It is a small peice for a handrail, My sister inlaw is using it as a handrail in her house and is worried they may be in there.
Has small hole like borers on the outside. Can she treat it to kill them if they are in there.
She doesn't like chemicals, thinks she may be able to drown them by putting in the pool for a few days. Is this true.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Jamie

HI MATE
well these buggers on not affraid of water, so dont give them a swim ,2 thing kill them fire-chemicals, the ones used to kill termites are very toxic but you can apply it and leave it outside for a few days.

Put it in a freezer for a week and that will kill anything

Jamie, small holes are more likely borers, termites dig out rather large galleries. Most termites need ground contact to flourish, so even if the odd one were in there, they would soon die & disappear - they would be the least of your concerns. The way to tell if you have active borers is to place the piece over some ply or other clean surface and look for the tell-tale sawdust ('frass') the adults leave as they exit. This is a method I read about & have used myself: If it's a small piece, put it in a black plastic bag with a Shelltox strip or similar volatile insecticide, & leave it in the sun for a week or two. In our climate, you probably don't need the chemicals, if the piece heats up to 60 degrees or so right through, there won't be anything left alive in there....

Cheers,

__________________
IW

Hi Ian

thanks for the info. My sister inlaw liked your response and will try it. they live near perth and so it is hot. She is going to put it in a bag and fry them.

Thanks guys, you are the best.
Jamie