tp_subterranean

Subterranean Termites

A group of termites that causes the greatest amount of damage from amongst all the termites. Anywhere from damage to houses, buildings, contents of warehouses (yes even whitegoods packaging, pallets that burst apart when picked up by forklifts etc) to high-rise buildings, wharfs, books, cartons and even leather. Broadly broken up into three groups which are indicative of their nesting habits : • mound builders; • arboreal ( "in the air", i.e. in trees); • and nests within trees or below ground. That is why some nests are easy to locate while others may never be located. While many are of minor significance, there is about six species which are our main problem: • Copto termes (3x) • Nasuti termes • schedorhino termes and • Mastotermes spp. What makes the Subterranean termite so different? Just visualise an octopus with tentacles reaching out from the main body of the animal. When the tentacles reach out to get something and the tentacles can't reach through an object or material, it would go over, under or around the object wouldn't it? Likewise with the majority of subterranean termites. While they all have different habits, food supplies and conditions they prefer (estimated species of termites in Australia alone are 200-300, 2000-3000 world wide) they generally have something in common. They will operate from a main body or nest where the main colony lives with their king, queen, nursery or breeding chamber, swarmers or alates (sexually mature ones that are bred to start up new colonies), workers and soldiers. In fact the temperature there is about the same as the human body, 37 degrees C.
	Like tentacles, workers and solders reach out from the nest in different directions up to sometimes 50 metres (some tropical species up to 100 metres) away. They generally travel in the top layer of soil, about 30 cm. If the object they reach is soft enough they can get though it. Rule of thumb: if material is soft enough to leave an imprint with your fingernail then they can get through it. This includes lead and some aluminiums. If they can not go through it , like the tentacles of an octopus, they will go around over or under the obstruction. How do they do it? The "tentacles" consist of a mud tunnel which they build progressively and which controls their own internal environment, temperature, humidity etc. Because their tunnels or galleries are dark, damp and warm and the walls are made up of organic material (regurgitated cellulose etc) fungi will grow on their workings. This provides them with another component of their diet.
A bit like taking a "packed lunch". Some soldiers can't chew, but their mates the workers, groom and feed them. That is why they can travel so far away from home. They can extend their range from home by building a "halfway house", a subsidiary nest so they don't have to go home all the way. It also explains why they don't need eyes - they work in the dark. However when exposed to the outside environment (heat, sun, air etc) they soon dry out and die. That is why they try to repair any opening in their workings so quickly - to maintain humidity etc. They are incredibly resourceful, like little engineers they seem to find a solution to any problem : physical or chemical barriers, adapting to a situation.
	This photo shows a nest we found in the sub floor of factory units in Sydney which had terrorised the owners and tenants for a long time, damaging packaging, shelving, pallets, office and partition walls. The nest has been built with a similar appearance to coral, thereby increasing the total surface area of the nest which allows additional moisture absorption. Important : Do not disturb or try to treat termites. Some are so "shy" that they will "go to ground" and we can neither identify them nor successfully treat them. The vital clues we need to advise you on your best options may be interfered with.
Treatment It takes specialist skills and knowledge of both building construction and termite behaviour and identification to advise you on a suitable form of treatment. Sometimes we need a combination of methods available. Why? - • Not all treatments work on all types of termites • not all types of constructions allow for all types of treatments • and not all treatments may suit you. There is a whole arsenal of different types of treatments available. Each method has it's advantages and limitations. But broadly speaking we have - • Physical barriers; • Liquid soil barriers; • Growth inhibitors; • Monitoring or baiting programs; • Termite dusting; • and Biological methods.

Rather than promoting particular products, we will discuss suitable solutions with you after we have completed our inspection of your property. You can then make an informed decision and choose the solution that you are happy with.

Of coarse we will supply you with all the information on the products and Material Safety Data Sheets.