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Termites, commonly known as White Ants, are responsible for millions of dollars worth of damage every year in Australia.
Even though people do call Termites ‘White Ants’, they are not related to true ants. They are small soft-bodied, social insects that feed on:- wood
- grass
- dead leaves
- humus, fungi or the dung of herbivores.
Termites live in colonies that may consist of over a million individuals. The colony is divided into castes (i.e. Queen, King, Workers, Soldiers, and Alates – flying reproductive). The Queen Termites can lay 2000 to 3000 eggs per day. Worker Termites are the only caste that can chew and digest the cellulose in wood and are the most numerous caste in the colony.
They are active in nearly every residential block and represent a major threat to stored products and timber used in the construction of buildings. It is estimated that one in five homes have a history of termite damage.
What to do if you find Termites
If you see or suspect that you have located any termite activity DO NOT DISTURB THEM. Disturbing Termite activity may cause the termites to retreat into the ground which makes it more difficult to achieve colony elimination.
Contact MRP and we will send out one of our professional Pest Management Technicians to carry out a free assessment and provide an obligation free quotation.
Helpful Hints
As with most pests, prevention is the best cure for Termites. Here are some ideas that may prevent termites from attacking your home.
- Make sure all stored timber is elevated off the ground and away from the house.
- Where possible ensure that the external perimeter of your home is free of moisture such as leaking gutters, water heater and air-con overflows and reticulation.
- Use termite resistant materials for constructions in the yard.
Download the printable Termites Info Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions about Termite Treatments
“My wife is pregnant. How do we protect our home without jeopardising the baby?”
There are several ways to protect your home from a termite attack. In situations where a pregnancy is involved, we suggest that you consider a non-toxic bait station option. Bait stations are very effective and there is absolutely no risk to your family, pets or the environment. The bait we use is actually less toxic than table salt.
“You’ve put bait stations in the ground, what happens if we want to do work in our garden?”
The beauty of the bait station system is that they can easily be moved. However, the stations would have been located in the most ideal position to intercept the termites, so if work is being carried out please let us know so that we can reinstall the stations accordingly. It’s also necessary to add more termite attractant to the soil surrounding the stations – which we will do for you at the same time.
“Which chemical is the best for my home?”
There are a dozen factors that come into consideration when determining the best treatment option for a home. At the end of the day, it boils down to one important question: ‘can we achieve a continuous barrier’? The construction, and surroundings of a home will determine this factor. Giving a quote sight unseen is irresponsible as it could result in you paying more than the job is worth. More importantly, it could mean that you are having a treatment done which is not sufficient for protecting your home from a termite attack.
We need to determine if it’s possible for termites to still attack after a treatment is installed. Chemicals fall into one of two categories – either repellent or a non-repellent. The difference is simply this; with repellent, the termites can detect the substance and stay away, whereas a non-repellent chemical is undetectable. In this case, the termites forage through it and die. If we believe that we can achieve a full continuous barrier then a repellent chemical (Biflex) is sufficient. Just as termites can detect a repellent, they can also detect where it is not in place. This means that if there is a gap in the barrier, it’s possible that termites could still attack your home. If a full barrier is not possible, then it’s best to go for a non-repellent (Termidor) option or have bait stations installed.
“How do we know if the existing treatment was done properly?”
You can always elect to have a soil sample done to determine if there is a barrier in place. However, there are several other key factors that you can investigate to determine if the job was done properly. If there are signs of inaccuracies in the treatment, then chances are you still need to have a professional company protect your home.
- Drill holes – The variance in treatment methods between companies is vast. Many companies will drill holes between 200-800mm apart. Just simply reading the product label will help you determine if the job was done correctly. If you had a Termidor treatment carried out on your property, the drill holes should be no more than 200mm apart. If you had a Bifenthrin or a Biflex product used on your home, then the drill holes should be no more than 300mm apart. If your drill holes are further apart than the legally binding label states, then we suggest you contact your pest control company and have them explain.
- Paper Documentation – Has the company provided you with a certificate of treatment explaining what was treated, what couldn’t be treated, and what risks still occur on your property? Has the company placed a notice of treatment on your meter box? Has the company provided you with a copy of their licence, their qualifications, their insurance, or their PestCert accreditation certificate?
