A Guide To Identifying Termite Activity and Damage

HELP! 
I Think I Have Termites, 
How Can I Tell?
There are primarily two types of insects that cause damage to timber, one is termites and the other is borer, unlike termites, borer cause damage over a period of decades and the damage may only be isolated to one piece of timber. Termites on the other hand, can destroy your  home in a matter of a few years if left untreated, so a regular termite inspection is key. A termite colony consists of several termite forms called castes, each caste is different and has a specific function which is to ensure the survival of the colony. The Queen & King started off as reproductive alates, this remains their function for their entire life which could be more than 25 years, laying up to 1000 eggs per day.  Nymphs can develop into three different castes, workers, soldiers and reproductive alates. 

Workers outnumber all the other castes, they perform many tasks in a colony, gathering food, feeding the queen and her young, building nests, galleries and mud tunnels and are responsible for timber damage. Soldiers are darker in colour with ronounced mandibles, they are well fed by the workers and their function is to protect the queen so they seldom leave the nest or security of the colony. Reproductive Alates leave the colony annualy when the weather aproximates the temperature inside the colony, they take flight seeking to establish a new colony. Swarming termites are a sure sign that close by there is a well developed termite colony. These voracious insects do not discriminate when it comes to food, they will attack any unprotected property, no matter whether it’s constructed of concrete or steel. 

If the environment under and around your property is conducive they will find a way in, to feast on your structural & decorative timbers. Occasionally you may see them flying out of small holes from inside a wall, ceiling or floor void, this can be quite disconcerting as you may not have even been aware of these flight holes. The termite species most prevalent in Australia is the coptotermes acinaciformis, a subterranean anthropod that travels back and forth through mud tunnels to the nest tending to their queen. These perfectly designed mud leads as they are sometimes called provide a sheltered thoroughfare away from human eyes and can easily be overlooked by the property owner. Most often they are evident running vertically up walls or stumps in a subfloor area.

Mud Tunnel

However in a property built on a concrete slab, these mud tunnels can often be hidden inside wall voids, under paving tiles or beneath soil that is built up along the perimeter walls of the building. Termite damage and workings can often be uncovered in areas that have been undisturbed for long periods of time and where you may be storing paper products such as books, charts and even photographs. A good spring clean annualy will keep a check on areas that may be a cause of concern. Termite damage is distinctive, the nature of  termites dictates the way they eat timber, and that is from the inside out. A floor board or skirting board can seem perfectly in tact and may not set off alarm bells until at some point the damage is exposed when lifting carpets, removing tiles or even just cleaning up. 

Floorboards appear to have hollow channels that make the timber structurally unsound, a skirting, door or window frame may only be held together by just the paint veneer and totally collapses on touch. Hopefully you’ve discovered the infestation in the early stages and the damage is minimal, expert advise is key at this point. Termites are attracted to timber that is in moist dark areas this provides the perfect environment, privacy, food and water. Moisture can often be caused by water leaks due to a burst pipe or poor drainage. Often termite damage is detected in walls, floors or skirtings adjoining wet areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and laundries. It is most important, if a water leak has occured or if you suspect a leak, to contact a plumber immediately. A subfloor that is dry, well ventilated and clear of stored timbers and obstructions is key. To ensure the perimeter is dry, overflows, external taps and downpipes should have adequeate drainage. Termites will travel up to 200 metres in search of edible timbers. 

Termites can also construct supplimentary nests closer to a food source, sometimes in a wall void, subfloor or even an unused room or garage. This nest was in an unfrequented moist garage, the timber shutters and scrap pieces of wood provided the perfect environment. Don’t risk termite damage, have your property inspected regularly at least once a year. Unearthing a nest or even termite activity and workings can be quite a shock.

Call us on 1300 669 635 to organise an inspection.