Thread: How do white ants enter a house?

Absolutely, white ants (they actually aren't ants at all they are termites) can enter a house through a concrete slab. The most common entry is weep holes in the brick veneer and that is more likely if gardens etc are covering them. However termites can and often do make entry through plumbing/electrical penetrations in the slab itself as well as through poor construction joints or cracks in the slab itself. Keeping weep hole clear and soil/gardens at least 75mm below the lowest part of the weep hole will force any attempted entry to be via a mud tunnel thus exposing themselves. Protecting the plumbing/electrical penetration or any construction joints/cracks in the slab etc is a different story as they are usually unseen until it is to late. As far as storing timber in the a shed with a concrete floor, keep it a foot or so off the floor so and you should be fine. Hope this helps some.

Cheers Rumnut

Thanks. So the termites can actually borrow under the ground all the way to the house and then enter from under the house through the concrete? how does a pest inspector can tell if there are termites in the house and where they are ( if there are any)

Once the beasties are in the house they will bign to eat the timber.

Exterminators find them either with a moisture metre - termites and moisture go hand in hand - or
by tapping the timber skirting boards and architraves with something like a screwdriver. The change
in the tone of the tapping can indicate termites. A hole is usually poked in the indicated hollow area
and it is sonn evident if termites are or have been present.

There are othe methods such as thermal imaging cameras, termatrak and even sniffer dogs that are used to seek out these dreaded beasties, pest control technicians are trained in a variety of methods and most I say most are quite efficient at their job. If you have concerns the best thing would be to find a reputable company in your area and book an inspection.

Traditionally, on say a house on piers, ant caps were installed. This was not because the termites were unable to navigate the cap, but because it forced them into the open. As they can't tolerate light they build overground tunnels made of their mud. This made their passage visible.

With the increasing tendency to build on concrete slabs this made life far more difficult in detecting their presence. It is virtually impossible to prevent concrete cracking, although some of the cracks are invisible to the naked eye. Any significant crack will allow termites to enter.

Poisoning under the slab is one deterrent but increasingly trenches with either a chemical or physical barrier around the slab are being used. This effectively makes the building an island.

The last technique is to use baits placed strategically around the building and regularly inspect them for activity.

Of course much this is retrospective treatment. It is to my mind better to use termite resistant timbers in the first place.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Bilby100

Thanks. So the termites can actually borrow under the ground all the way to the house and then enter from under the house through the concrete? how does a pest inspector can tell if there are termites in the house and where they are ( if there are any)

Our property is connected to a very long termite nest that runs at along the backs of the blocks of about 80 houses between two streets. Every now and then if the termites are not getting enough love and food they will foray out to a house. In 1996 they sent a long tunnel about 20 m up from one of their nest branches under 3 m of paving into our new bay window and ate that out and were just getting into the ceiling joists when we found them. The pest inspector lifted the pavers and showed us half a dozen veritable termite freeways 5 - 8 lanes wide some running to - others fro. The builder who did our renovation replaced everything because he did not build the brick course up high enough and his paver did not lower the paving level low enough to avoid this problem.

Many years ago termites (Macrotermes Darwinensis) ate thru the telephone cable between Darwin & the rest of Australia - straight through the lead and steel sheathing as well as the copper wire, reportedly looked like it was done with a drill press. They were looking for water and the cable just happened to be in the way.

Then there are the North American (I think) dry timber termites. They don't need a trail back to the ground or other source of water and can just land on your roof & set up shop. There have been several infestations including at one of the major museums who had a devil of a time exterminating them in some major wooden artifacts without destroying the artifacts along with the termites.

Originally Posted by bsrlee

Many years ago termites (Macrotermes Darwinensis) ate thru the telephone cable between Darwin & the rest of Australia - straight through the lead and steel sheathing as well as the copper wire, reportedly looked like it was done with a drill press. They were looking for water and the cable just happened to be in the way.

Then there are the North American (I think) dry timber termites. They don't need a trail back to the ground or other source of water and can just land on your roof & set up shop. There have been several infestations including at one of the major museums who had a devil of a time exterminating them in some major wooden artifacts without destroying the artifacts along with the termites.

I think that the termites you are referring to may be Drywood Termites and more specifically the West Indian Drywood Termite (Cryptotermes brevis) one of the most destructive termites in the world. This species of termite does not require contact with the ground and is quite happy munching away at timber in service (furniture, ornaments, your house etc) with just the existing moisture in that timber being sufficient to survive. These termites are not well established here and can only get here via the likes of imported furniture etc. These termites are one reason why there are restrictions on importing timber from overseas and why our borders need protection. Once established the only way to treat these termites is to completely seal off the infected building (like putting an envelope over the entire building) and fumigating with Methyl bromide. There is a native Australian Drywood Termite (Cryptotermes primus) which does attack timber in service but it is rarely seen and not considered to be a major problem.

Subteranean termites are what cause the most damage to structures in Australia and the one we should be most wary of as these are the ones that can and will enter your home through any available means and usually not noticed until damage has already been done.
Cheers Rumnut