Thread: Termites- Is this photo a sign of them?

no photo

The bloke I'd recommend seems to have gone out of business
sorry

Black ants are the termites biggest enemy, so that's a good sign.
TM

I cannot seem to get the photo up??!!

I upload and it appears in the manage attachments window but then what?

Mike

??Photo now attached??

It wouldn't hurt to have it checked out, I recommend you do this.

FWIW I'd say it is black ant activity, termites are usually very cunning critters that leave very little sign of their work. You can also use the handle of a screwdriver to tap along any wooden mouldings and listen for a sound change. It's a pretty good way of establishing if there is an advanced infestation.

Cheers
Michael

Sounds a little far fetched but if you have access to a stethoscope have a listen to where you suspect they are. The black ants are definitely an enemy of the white ants but they seem to rely on "seeing" them or being able to get at them.

I would make it a priority to get it checked out.

Bob, when we found that termites were in our house the first sign were flying mites.

The screwdriver trick is good, you can also try pushing with you finger nail or thumb to look for soft spots. Remember, if you break through, it would need to be replaced anyway.

I could also hear them in the wall. i would just place my ear on the gyprock and try to listen for scratching. It is easily heard.

Of course the best thing to do is have someone come in and inspect it professionally, but then there can be a chance that they miss the signs (depends on extent of damage). They have the tools which look for moisture and heat, plus they also use a screwdriver. I hate the screwdriver as it leaves marks on areas that are okay.

Best of luck and i hope you don't have the bugs. It's an awful feeling to find you place is getting eaten out.

Originally Posted by TermiMonster

Black ants are the termites biggest enemy, so that's a good sign.
TM

True but it may not necessarily be a good sign. I remember one house I went to had black ants and coastal brown ants everywhere and just for good measure they also had termites all through the house.
Had sadly been wrongly advised that if they had ants they couldn't have termites, which is completely untrue.

So even if I was to say the picture may be ants, without actually being on site, there may also be termites right next to the ants.

Stethoscopes are a good idea with some species of termites, especially Coptotermes species they are great to listen too.

Re looking for a pest controller in Sydney at a minimum ask if they are insured and ask for written proof if you want to(approx half the industry isn't insured) and make sure the technician who is coming to your house is Timber Pest Qualified. (surprisingly in many states a pest control licence can be obtained without any real termite training).

This post is general in nature and cannot be relied upon, as all situations are different, it is strongly recommended that you have your property inspected by a professional timber pest qualified person.

Mate just been replacing half the walls in the house from prior termite damage. This doesn't look like termite rubble to me, but tap around the wooden trim around the area. Get a yearly check, but often if you pull off trim or walls etc, a lot of the dust, dirt and crap is just a buildup of it inside the walls or settled debris from the roof after time.

I agree with Dean. Termites and ants both leave more of a powder like material in little piles. I've never seen the kind of flakes you show from them. I'd bet on some kind of small rodent chewing the wood to make a nest. Either way, the best bet is to have a pro come and inspect the place.

Hi Famreeks,
This is not temite mud/workings.

More like black ants, or a spider dropping debris from feeding above.

Termites will not usually leave scattered debris, as their workings are harder and will usually remian in tact for them to travel through.
Termites or white ants don't have the pigment in their skin to cope with sunlight, so they build mud tubes, or termite leads to remain concealed from light an other predators such as ants.

You should maintain annual termite inspections yearly to keep an eye on the condition of your property, and risk of infestation.

Cheers