This group of termites is found in moist decaying
wood such as found in forests, landscaping timbers, stumps, railway sleepers,
in gardens, in fences and in buildings. But only in building timbers that are
moist and decaying, such as timbers in contact with the ground; poorly
ventilation or leaks from plumbing.
Once the conditions become dry the chances of infestation by this
group is reduced significantly. Found in the regions up to 300km inland, from
Darwin to Melbourne to Adelaide.
What do I look for?
Out of the seven or so main species there are two that are of
major significance: Neotermes insularis
and Porotermes adamsoni.
Neotermes insularis is often
called the "ring-ant" because it likes the softer growth rings in timber.
Porotermes adamsoni. Form pipes
or tunnel, filled with a mud-like material called "mud - guts" in decaying
timber.
They have no real nest but can tunnel below ground from dead
roots of trees in soil. However it does not produce the telltale signs of the
subterranean termite group such as the external plastering, galleries and
runways.
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