Termite Information

What are Termites?

Termites, often known as white ants are wood eating insects. Termites are highly variable in size, colour and shape, but have many similarities. All Termites belong to the order Isoptera. Termites are heavily modified Cockroaches and although they are often referred to as ‘white ants’ , they are not related to the ant family at all.

Termites are social insects and live in colonies. Some termites live in mounds above ground (e.g. Magnetic termites), some live in nests up telephone poles (e.g. Nasutitermes species), some in the base of trees and stumps ( eg.Coptotermes species), and some even live in the very timber walls of the home. Call us to find out more on 1800 686 299

Termites live in groups or colonies up to several million in number. In any colony there are several different forms called castes. Worker castes are for food supply and tunnelling. Soldier castes are for defence of the colony and Reproductive castes are for future generations and colony survival. Reproductive termites are often referred to as alates. The worker and soldier castes are sterile. All termites consume cellulose (found in timber, paper, cardboard, grass etc) as their food source. Call us to find out more on 1800 686 299

Termite Behaviour in Melbourne

Termites are often associated with mounds seen in Northern Australia or dense forest areas, they also form subterranean nests underground in root systems of trees or timber stumps. In Melbourne, termites nest in soil fill and building material. You can also find them under concrete slabs in patios, verandas and paths around your premises. In Melbourne, termites can be found in many trees including Eucalypts, Peppercorn trees and imported Oaks and Elm trees.

Termites can nest in the trunk of a tree just above soil level or sometimes higher up in the fork of a branch where moisture has entered the tree causing decay. Termites can tunnel 50 to 80m from their nest to a feed site, for example from a tree 3 house blocks away to a piece of skirting in a building. The worker termites are responsible for timber damage with chewing mouth parts and form over 80% of the colony.

Termite Infestation- Wall Cavities and Power Points

Coptotermes termite workers are 5mm to 8mm long with the soldiers slightly larger having a darker head and pincers or biting jaws called mandibles on their head. These mandibles are used for protection of the termite colony. Call us to find out more on 1800 686 299

Flying Termites in Melbourne (Alates)

Termites fly in the warmer summer months, normally when the humidity is higher during the evening. This is when the flying caste members, known as alates (6.) take to the wing in a Nuptial flight. They swarm into the air from infested timber in the building or from an infested tree. The alates pair up after a short mating (7.) display and tunnel into the soil to start a new colony. This process of release and pairing up is very hazardous with a high mortality rate from natural predators and exposure to the elements.

Often the termite flight occurs when the occupants of the house are out. On their return, they find a house full of winged insects and have no idea where they came from or what they are. Most alates are found around the windows, along the carpet edge, trying to escape towards the light. They are naturally attracted to light; however do not live for long inside and quickly die. Always keep a few termite alates samples as your Exopest technician will be able to identify the exact species. Correct identification of the species is important in making the right treatment recommendation.

Alates are sexually mature males and females whereas the other termite castes are sterile. There is normally one Queen Termite per nest and she can measure up to 4cm in length and live for 40 years. (Please refer to termite diagram below). The Queen is very productive in her lifetime and can produce as many as 40,000 eggs (2.) per day. The King and Queen (1.) are entombed in the egg laying chamber in the centre of the colony and co-ordinate the daily activities of the worker (4.) and soldier (5.) termites.

Termite colonies only flight when the colony is mature, anything up to 5 years after the original nuptial flight. Call us to find out more on 1800 686 299..

Termites in Melbourne

Coptotermes acinaciformis and Coptotermes frenchi are Melbourne`s most common and destructive species of termite. Dampwood termite Porotermes adamsoni as the name suggests live in damp poorly ventilated soils under and around homes. Both species of Coptotermes build mud tunnels on concrete and timber stumps and brick piers, but Porotermes does not. Dampwood termites are commonly found in older style homes in the inner city with timber stumps, bluestone foundations and inadequate subfloor ventilation. Also found in outbuildings and garages where timbers go directly into the ground.

Nasutitermes species of termite are less of a problem in Melbourne and are found in the outer suburbs close to natural bushland or reserves. They build mound nests at the base of trees or stumps, but can also be found under buildings where conditions are dark, damp and warm.

Coptotermes species build mud shelter tubes or mud tunnels (leads) from the soil up and into above ground timbers under and around the home. These mud tunnels are made up of soil, partly digested timber and a secretion from the insect itself. Leads are the distinctive feature of this termite and are used heavily in our inspection techniques when crawling under a home looking for their entry point.

Termite leads can be as thick as a pencil or as large as your leg and can be found on the sides of stumps, concealed behind an engaged brick pier or on foundation walls under the home. Termites often enter a home after initially feeding on timber offcuts left by the builder under the floor. Timber offcuts include pieces of flooring, joists, bearers and framing and provide a ready meal for hungry foraging termites.

Termites travel up and down these leads all the way from the nest to the feed site, often up to 50m every day.

Termite Species In Melbourne

In Melbourne these Nuptial termite alate flights occur in early spring from October onwards when the temperature and humidity are high offering the greatest chance of survival. The warm northerly winds help disperse the termites and often this release flight is the first sign of termite damage people find in their home. It is not uncommon to return home one evening and find a room full of discarded wings and wingless termites crawling all over the floor. They naturally congregate in the cracks and crevices along the carpet edge, skirting board or along the window sill. Tens of thousands of alates are released during the flight. Termite flight cuts can clearly be seen where the alates have exited the timber and the worker termites seal up the holes with mud after the flight. Common timbers attacked and eaten out in the home are door frames, architraves, skirting boards, polished wood floors and other finished timbers in cupboards, mouldings etc.

The recent renovation practice in Melbourne of pulling up carpets and polishing the floors has greatly helped in the detection of termite damaged timber. The termites eat the timber in the floor board right up to the polyurethane membrane and leave a very thin skin in tact to keep themselves separated from the outside world. They maintain their controlled environment inside the sealed galleries in the damaged timber. They in some cases skeletonise the wood leaving just a thin outer shell.

Termites in Melbourne are all subterranean, but sometimes when the conditions are ideal they form nests above ground in wall cavities and voids in the home. Moist warm conditions are very attractive to foraging worker termites. These nests start out life as a feeding site and gradually over time increase in numbers so much they form a subnest becoming independent of the main colony. Wall subnests are found generally in homes in the older inner city suburbs, but occasionally we encounter subcolonies in frame timbers of concrete slab homes in newer suburbs. Leaking shower bases, baths and other damp spots are all potential sites. We have found termite nests under baths, behind showers, under floors, in wardrobes, in suitcases stored under homes and in ceiling voids between floors. Termites love humidity and heat so take advantage of any situation that supplies these perfect conditions.

Higher soil levels or cracked slabs can create entry points for termites.

Is your house vulnerable?

1. Filled areas. (Soil and builder's rubble under patios and verandas often contain concealed waste timber products.)
2. Concrete slab on ground. (Termites remain concealed under the slab floor. Unknown entry points through slab cracks, joins and plumbing fittings).
3. Timber stumps. (Often covered in garden beds or left in ground after tree felling). Low clearance areas under floor. (Low subfloor areas under the home prevent physical access for inspection and termite entry points are concealed. Ducted heating restricts physical access and visual inspection.)
4. Damp areas. Poorly ventilated areas. (Termites attracted by fungal growth in damp soils).
5. Form work timbers left in place after construction. (Timbers below ground level in garden beds attract foraging termites).
6. Timber retaining walls. Garden sleepers. (Too close to home attracts foraging worker termites. Possible nesting sites)
7. Leaking pipes, gutters and down pipes, as well as garden sprinklers directed toward home. (Damp soils around the home attract Termites).
8. Damp timber caused by leaking pipes. (Fungal growth attracts termites).
9. Garden beds built over the edge of the slab. (Allows easy access for termites, concealed entry).
10. Concrete paths built over the edge of the slab. (Hidden entry points into the home).
11. Weep holes blocked or covered up in brickwork along the slab edge. (Termites entry points).
12. Timber offcuts left under the home. (Termites attracted to timbers by odour and decay). Trees and tree stumps within 50m of home. (Termites nest in trees and can feed on timbers in a 50m range).
13. Timber support stumps. These should have ant caps installed to force termites into the open for easy detection.
14. Adjoining properties and zero lot lines. Party walls and zero lot lines can restrict access for inspection as well as allow termites' undetected entry from neighbour's building.