| Termites - White Ants - ACT |
| Termites are often called "white ants" in Australia |
| Subterranean termites or "white-ants" are a
highly destructive timber pest, causing major structural timber damage to
domestic and commercial buildings in ACT.
A major economic pest: Recent industry surveys suggest about one third of all unprotected properties in ACT are subject to attack by subterranean termites. Most of the latest technology for termite control products comes from the USA where termite control is a US$5 billion industry. Other major termite control markets include Australia, Japan, South East Asia, China and the south of France. Most homes are at risk in ACT in built-up urban areas, especially if well established gum trees are nearby the building - within a 100 metre radius. The problem is getting worse: Severe termite damage to Australian homes is on the increase since the removal in 1995 of the long lasting soil barrier chemicals; the more common use of softwood building and other landscaping timbers that termites find irresistible, such as, hardwood timber mulch and railway sleepers on the ground. Other important factors promoting termite colony development include automatic watering systems, landscaping and maintenance that encourage termite activity and inappropriate building design that allow hidden termite entry into a building.
Fascinating biology: Australian subterranean termites evolved more than 250 million year ago. Meaning they inhabited Australia long before flowering plants. Their survival success depends on living in a protective underground environment. In some species, their colony nest has a hardened shell, exposed above ground level. In most destructive species in ACT their nest is totally out of sight, below ground level. The worker termites build mud-tubes over hard objects. The tubes or "galleries" are made up of partly digested timber and mud excrete, and is moist if currently in active use. The termites keep it's colony nest and galleries at 25 to 35c with high humidity. If they are exposed to light or open air they will desiccate (dehydrate) and die. They live in constant darkness, excepting for the annual summer swarms of the winged reproductives. A million termites in the nest: In some destructive species, a termite colony nest may contain more than a million termites, consisting of a queen, king, young immature nymphs, workers, soldiers and winged reproductives (called alates). They are delicate, soft bodied and small in stature, about half the size of match-head. But they are also highly efficient timber recyclers, and often described as Mother nature's best builders. The worker termites are blind and forage in a largely random criss-cross fashion looking for new timber food sources. However, they may encounter and follow moisture zones and trail along solid objects, such as, the concrete slab edge of your home. The soldiers accompany the workers in their constant search for new timber food sources. If you find termites active in timber framing, it is the soldiers that rush out to defend the workers. Experience counts: It takes many years of termite control field-work experience to get a proper understanding of the habits of the destructive termite species habits and their likely foraging areas in a variety of building types and environmental circumstances.
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| The worker termites have a symbiotic digestive system |
Workers feed the rest of the colony: Only
the worker termite caste can digest timber by the use of symbiotic
protozoa in their gut. The worker termites digest and then regurgitate the
partly digested timber as a semi-liquid food for the other termite castes.
Even the workers excrete is eaten by the other termites as it high in
cellulose content. This feeding by mouth and anus is technically known as
trophallaxis.
Cannibal like efficiency: Worker termites cannibalise other dead termites, which if they carry the bait in their system, will further hasten the demise of the colony. Modern termite control products, preventive barriers, termite baiting and other recommendations are discussed in detail in the Termite Control section of this website. |
| The biology and behaviour of Subterranean Termites |
Social interdependence: Sir Winston Churchill once said "Communism is OK if you have the mentality of a termite". And so it is with termites - within the colony nest you'll find members of different castes, each with a different role to perform and all interdependent upon each other for survival of the colony. These include the queen, king, the winged reproductive (young kings and queens), soldier and worker termites.
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| The life-cycle of Subterranean Termites |
Termites constantly groom and feed each other. A valuable technique for the termite controller is to install and monitor a termite baiting system next to any live activity found in and around the premises where termite foraging is most likely to occur. Subsequent regular inspections indicate the amount of bait consumed and the condition of any termites observed. They may appear sick, exhibit a change of colour to a mottle look, indicating the effect of the termite bait over time. Nemesis termite bait is formulated as an attractive food source to the termites. The bait has a delayed lethal effect. Time enough to be transferred to other termites in the colony nest. If the queen is killed, the nest goes into rapid decline leading to the elimination of the entire colony. This process is explained in detail in the Termite Control section of this website. |
| The main destructive species of termites in ACT |
Proper identification is essential: It is
essential for a professional pest controller to properly identify the
species of termite found in a property. Some species of termites prefer
living and will not attack dry seasoned timbers in a building, whilst
others can be are highly destructive to such buildings in a short amount
of time.
Commonly found throughout ACT - particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum trees are highly prevalent.
Nest Location - Coptotermes acinaciformis are a very secretive termite species; they build their nest out of sight, often within the base of eucalyptus or other susceptible trees, or completely under the ground; often within an enclosed patio or under concrete on ground flooring which is ideal for moisture retention, temperature and humidity control within the termite colony's central nest. Coptotermes acinaciformis can also construct subsidiary termite nests away from the main colony nest. A subsidiary White-ant nest can be contained in a wall cavity of a building where there is a reliable moisture source, for example, from a leaking shower recess or faulty guttering or rusted down pipes.
Area of Distribution - Commonly found in ACT.
Destructive Nature - Schedorhinotermes intermedius are highly destructive to buildings and other timber structures. If mostly major (larger) soldiers are sighted, then they will most likely be a large colony with the potential to cause severe and rapid damage to structural timbers of a building or other timber structures. Nest Location - Schedorhinotermes intermedius commonly build their nest in tree stumps, in the root crown of the living, dead and debilitated trees, under houses or within enclosed patios or other areas where timber has been buried or stored in contact with the soil.
Area of Distribution - Commonly found throughout ACT; particularly in urban areas, where buildings are constructed of softwood or oregon timber framing. This species is responsible for most of the timber pest damage to buildings in the ACT region. Destructive Nature - Coptotermes frenchi can cause severe damage to buildings and other wooden structures. It is common for this species to devour timber framing leaving only a thin veneer. This species is the most shy of the destructive species; they will retreat from a location immediately (for the time being) if disturbed. Nest Location - Coptotermes frenchi most often build their nest in the root crown or lower trunk area of living trees, particularly eucalypts. They may also build their nest as a mound in the dryer areas.
Area of Distribution - Commonly found throughout ACT - particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum trees are highly prevalent. Destructive Nature - Nasutitermes exitiosus are destructive to buildings and other timber structures. Sometimes severe damage may occur, but not so commonly as the other species listed above. Nest Location - Nasutitermes exitiosus build a mound nest which protrudes 30cm to 75cm above the ground. Control can be as easy as knocking the top off the nest and a follow up insecticide treatment inside the nest.
Area of Distribution - Commonly found in ACT - particularly prevalent along the entire coast-line, along the Great Dividing Range and western slopes. Destructive Nature - Coptotermes lacteus attacks stumps, dead trees, timber fences, poles and other timber structures that are in contact with the soil, being softened by weathering or decay. These termites are also known to attack such timber in damp sub-floor areas. Nest Location - this termite species, most often builds it's nest as a mound up to 2m above ground level, with hard clay walls, so control is easily effected once located by knocking the top off and insecticide treatment of the nest.
Destructive Nature - Nasutitermes walkeri can be destructive to damp timbers often a serious problem where the sub-floor of a building is damp and ventilation is poor with resulting wood decay or fungal growth. Nest Location - Nasutitermes walkeri build their nest in trees on the main trunk or in the fork of a large branch.
Area of Distribution - Commonly found throughout ACT - particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum trees are highly prevalent.
Nest Location - Heterotermes ferox often build their colony nest next to stumps, logs, or other timber in direct contact with the soil where some wood decay or rotting is prevalent.
Dampwood termites form small independent nests which often attack sick or dead trees, decaying stumps or mould timber in the ground; they are seldom found in dry timbers in buildings.
Drywood termites occur mostly in tropical areas, where the atmospheric humidity is constantly above 75 percent. The introduced and highly destructive West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis, is rarely located in ACT, once in Sydney in the early 1980's. Specialist eradication procedures involve wrapping the entire building in plastic and using methyl bromide fumigation. |
| If You find termites do NOT disturb them |
Termites have acute survival instincts. If
they are shaken up or disturbed, the termites often will abandon the
associated area and move on to secretly cause damage in other areas in the
building. If you find termites in or around your property, it is essential
that you do NOT disturb them and promptly arrange for a professional
inspection and application of a termite bait to the live termites, if
present in abundance.
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