Thread: Does this look like the work of termites?

Originally Posted by Grunt

Hey Termite, running out of things to do now that you're retired?

Grunt, I don't know how I ever found time to go to work, not original but very true.

Upon closer inspection, there are numerous trails running between the wooden uprights, and the masonite (or whatever the heck it is). Hopefully some are intact and are in use so the nest can be destroyed. When I did crack the ones in the pictures, there were no live ants in there, so hopefully they are long gone.

The house is double brick on a slab, so unlikely they are in the house (fingers crossed the roof trusses are clear). The shed is a semi detached structure joined to the house by a colourbond/steel pergola. Hopefully they haven't gotten too adventurous.

The good news is that the last owners has the house sprayed last december and I have found the receipt, so if there are termites, the treatment *should* be covered under the twelve month warranty the company offers.

Thanks for all your advice

OK I am going to add my 10 cents and fully expect to get hammered by all the pest contoller types out there.
Sprays,mesh, nuclear waste are all somewhat effective against termites but none are fool proof and some plain foolish.
The only thing that does work is correct construction and regular inspection.
There is no point trying to kill the nest it will just be replaced by another colony. There are at least 20 nests on my property alone and killing the colont attacking my house would 12 monthe hence have no effect as another would take its place.
So construction and inspection are you only lasting weapons.

Interesting aside, Some boffins have estimated that the biomass of termites in Australia out weight all other Biomass above and below ground level.

Ross

Originally Posted by woodbe

I've been researching this lately, because we need to do something at home (no strikes yet...)

Lately, a new method of control other than spraying ineffective chemicals around that need topping up every couple of years has been showing up. (you can't get the 20 year chemicals anymore, I wonder why?) It's based on having a series of baiting stations that you monitor for strikes, and call in the experts to destroy the nests once you get a strike.

I saw it in action just recently, and have since seen the traps all over the place. Check this website out:

http://www.termitefreenaturally.com.au/

The Termimesh people were also showing a similar system at the recent Adelaide Home Show.

I don't work for any of these people, I'm just a potential customer, so not recomending them, and interested if anyone has had any success with this method?

Michael

The skirting boards in the centre of our solid brick hall at the scout camp got termit struck and we had to go with the bait stations etc,
much dearer than the old way and I really don't think its anywhere as near effective.

Looks to me like the termites were hiking OVER the Jarrah to get at something else more edible. Since they'd gone to the trouble of building their covered over-pass, I'd be checking out other food sources they might have been attracted to in the direction of the trail. Different wood types, cardboard boxes in the attic, etc. Plus how did they get into the wall space? Make sure you spray around your walls/foundations.

Richard

Originally Posted by Richardwoodhead

Looks to me like the termites were hiking OVER the Jarrah to get at something else more edible. Since they'd gone to the trouble of building their covered over-pass, I'd be checking out other food sources they might have been attracted to in the direction of the trail. Different wood types, cardboard boxes in the attic, etc. Plus how did they get into the wall space? Make sure you spray around your walls/foundations.

Richard

When I lived in Perth, it was a common practice to put a pile of mill ends of any species other than Jarrah in the back yard to attract the little buggers away from the house. I had a large nest in a big stump and a couple of piles of mill ends at each side of the back yard worked quite well to keep them out of the jarrah house frames. When I bought the house it had not been sprayed in living memory (a situation I rectified PDQ) and there wasn't a termite to be seen in it. The shed, which was marri-framed, was a write-off though.

Originally Posted by Different

The only thing that does work is correct construction and regular inspection.

Agree. I have fought two battles with termites now. We killed two nests at the current house and, in the words of Jeff Wayne, still they come.

You need to force them out into the open and then have regular inspections to detect them. Termites don't like open air or direct light. If you expose the edge of your slab all the way around, assuming that it is sound (no holes or cracks) then they will have to build tunnels to get to your frame. This makes them easy to spot.

Termites cut off from the nest will die very quickly.

The purpose of mesh (Termimesh) and ant capping etc is not to provide a physical barrier - these things wont keep termites out - but are there to force the little bastards out into the open so that you can see them.

You will never kill all the termites in your area, although your neighbours will love you for trying. Bait stations are fine for detecting the presence of termites, assuming that they are placed in the correct locations. Sooner or later the termites will find them but there's every chance they will find your house first. Pest controllers love them because they're a nice little earner.

Originally Posted by silentC

Pest controllers love them because they're a nice little earner.

Yes, I have this nice little arrangement with the pest controllers in my area.