How stop termites before they get started

Stopping these invaders starts with an understanding of them and what they’re looking for.
When it comes to eating, a termite is looking for anything that contains cellulose. Most often, that’s wood, but paper, cardboard, carpet and even cloth might draw its attention. They also need a source of moisture to help prevent their bodies and even their colony from dying out.

Termites or white ants

Termites, also known as white ants, play a vital role in our ecosystem. They maintain nature's balance by digest wood and other cellulose material, breaking down dead trees and vegetation. However, when termites invade homes, they become major pests. Your biggest investment may be at risk. Many species of termites cause considerable damage to homes, furniture, and other structures

So, it is really important to have annual inspections because early discovery provides you with a head start in solving this problem. After a thorough inspection, we will provide you with a customized and individualized assessment and treatment plan. We can help you get rid of termites regardless of your home's construction type, material, or age.

Type of Termites:

Termites live in groups or colonies up to several million in number. In any colony, there are various different forms called castes. Worker castes are for food supply and tunnelling. Soldier castes defend the colony against intruders and reproductive castes are for future generations and colony survival. All termites consume cellulose (found in timber, paper, cardboard, grass etc.) as their food source.

Knowing the types helps you know where to watch out for termite invaders.

1. Subterranean Termites:
   This type builds its colonies underground. They need contact with soil to maintain their moisture levels. A regular source of moisture is critical to a subterranean colony’s survival.
   There are numerous species of subterranean termites; one of the most aggressive and destructive species are Formosan termites. They can form a carton nest above ground, limiting their need for ground contact.
2. Drywood Termites:
   This type colonizes in wood above ground. Unlike subterranean termites, they don’t need contact with soil to survive.
3. Dampwood Termites:
   This type typically lives in damp and decaying wood. They require regular contact with water as well as a high humidity level to survive. Dampwood termites are the largest in size of the three types.

Signs of termites:

Termites live underground or hide in dark, warm and moist environments. They silently eat away from inside to out so by the time we know termites are in the home it’s usually too late. But there are signs to watch out for that could indicate a potential termite infestation:

• Spongy feeling or hollow-sounding wood
  When damage or hollowing of timbers are detected this is the most common situation where termites/white ants are detected and affect both hardwood and softwood flooring timbers, architraves, door frames and most other timbers within a building or structure.
• Evidence of discarded wings particularly near light fighting and window sills
  Often the first evidence a homeowner has that they have a termite or white ant problem is large numbers of winged insects emerging from a door or window architrave or through the plaster. These winged Alates, as we call them, are the future termite queens leaving to start new nests elsewhere.
• Cracked or distorted paint and mud tubes on the exterior surface
  Damage to stored items like boxes of papers or books stored in sub-floor or storage areas are attacked by termites/white ants. Not only is timber a food source for termites but paper and any cellulose material is highly desirable to them as well.
• Termite droppings, which look like small, ridged, wood-coloured pellets
  Mud or dirt appearing in gaps around door jambs or skirtings is often termite/white ant mudding and is associated with their activity, however often there is no detectable damage in the timbers.