You may be going about doing your regular home routine: cleaning, cooking, and brewing a cup of coffee to refresh yourself. But just underneath your feet, lurking under the floors, or in the walls of your home, some pesky critters may be running amok. These pests may cause your home’s structure to fail if you don’t eliminate them as soon as you can. What are these pests, you say? They’re white ants (a.k.a. termites).
There are around 360 species of termites to be found in Australia; thankfully, most of them are not destructive to human dwellings. But the very few that are, can slowly chip away at the wood in your home unnoticed, causing
large-scale damage. Unfortunately, home insurance policies in Australia do not cover the costs incurred from white ants infestations, making it even more important for homeowners to ensure their properties remain free from these pests.
In this article, we will cover everything you need to know about white ant infestations and how you can help prevent them. Whether you are a homeowner or are simply looking to educate yourself about these organisms, this guide will help you in early detection and hiring professional pest control in Australia to safeguard your home or property.
1. What are White Ants?
White ants are the colloquial term that is used for referring to termites. Despite what their name suggests, they are not ants but they do share a similar colony structure to that of ants. Termites are classified into 3 categories: subterranean, drywood and dampwood. And among these, subterranean termites are the ones that cause billions of dollars worth of property damage in Australia.
These pests thrive in environments where
moisture collects (like wall cavities near leaky plumbing, shower recesses or faulty guttering) and where cellulose-rich materials (wood and plant debris) can be found in plenty. All they need is a 2mm gap to enter inside your home, and once in, they can go unnoticed for years until a significant portion of the walls, floors or ceilings have been damaged.
2. Lifecycle and Behaviour of White Ants
Termites live in highly
organised colonies consisting of workers, soldiers and a queen. The queen becomes an egg-producing machine once mated and can lay up to 2000 eggs per day. The workers, on the other hand, are responsible for foraging for food, feeding the colony and digging the tunnels through which they traverse, while the soldiers protect it from predators.
The digestive system of the white ant needs cellulose as a food source; they break down the cellulose found in the wood using symbiotic protozoa in their gut that turn it into liquid. They then feed on this partially digested, semi-liquid food through a process called trophallaxis, which involves regurgitating it from the mouth or passing it through their anus.
3. Signs of White Ant Infestation
Detecting a white ant infestation early can save you significant costs. Some of the common signs to watch out for include mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, discarded wings and warped doors and windows. Termites build protective mud tubes to travel between their nests and the food sources, which you can often find along the walls or foundations. Then, if you tap on the wood and it sounds hollow, it could indicate that the wood is being eaten from the inside out.
Often, swarming termites shed their wings during mating, so if you happen to find a pile of wings near windowsills or doors, it is a very big red flag. In the case of infestations, you’ll also be able to see that the wood is swelling, making the doors and windows difficult to open or close. So, if you notice these signs, it is highly pertinent that you get your house analysed by expert
pest control in Australia and get rid of them as soon as you can.
4. Treating White Ant Infestations
If you discover an infestation, swift action is needed to
minimise the damage they’ve caused. Some of the methods utilised to deal with such infestations include:
- Chemical Barriers: Applying termiticides around the perimeter of your home to create a protective barrier that can prevent new termites from entering.
- Baiting Systems: Recently, advanced baits have been introduced in the Australian market by the US, which has a delayed but lethal effect on white ants. These baits are readily passed between each ant through grooming and feeding; hence are effective in eliminating the colony.
- Fumigation: Involves treating an entire structure with gas to eradicate the termites.
- Physical Barriers: Using termite resistant materials or barriers during the construction process.
Professional pest control services in Australia can offer tailored solutions based on the extent of the infestation and the type of termites involved.
5. Preventing White Ant Infestations
In terms of white ants, preventing is better than curing. For this, the following methods can be used:
- Removing Wood-To-Soil Contact: Try to keep firewood, mulch and wooden debris away from the home’s foundation.
- Reducing Moisture: Fix any leaking plumbing and ensure proper drainage in the home. Be sure to ventilate any crawl spaces in the home.
- Seal Gaps and Cracks: Inspect the property for cracks or gaps in the walls or foundations, and if you find any, seal them off to block entry points.
- Conducting Regular Inspections: Annual inspections done by licensed pest control services are vital for early detection.
If you notice signs of infestation, identify what species of termites might be causing damage to your property. Sometimes, what looks like a termite might not even be one; hence, an informed analysis done by expert pest control in Australia is highly recommended.
Wrapping Up
White ants are a silent but formidable threat to homes in Australia. Being vigilant about the signs of infestations and making efforts to mitigate them are necessary to protect your property, both in terms of value and structural integrity.
