DO NOT DISTURB

MANAGEMENT

TERMITE BIOLOGY
Subteranean Termites usually have to maintain contact with the soil to obtain sufficient moisture to survive. They live together in a colony and are divided into castes, each with a specific duty.

Worker termites are by far the most numerous of the castes. They forage for food, care for the young and build the nest. The workers are responsible for damage to timber caused in their search for food, which consists mainly of cellulose, sugars and starches present in timber.

Protection of a colony is the duty of a relatively small number of soldier termites. Nature has equipped these soldiers with Physical and chemical weaponry to help them repel invaders.

A further caste consists of the reproductive termites responsible for the propogation of the species. These reproductive termites grow wings and are known as Alates.

Once a year, usually in early summer, on a warm and humid evening, they swarm from the nest. After a short flight, these males and females shed their wings prior to mating. Most of these potential "king and queen" termites either fall prey to birds, lizards, ants or spiders, or they die of exposure before they can find a suitable location. But if they find a suitable location, a new colony will result, which after many years, may contain over one million termites.

Whenever termites leave the soil in their search for food, they construct mud tunnels to protect them from predators and also to ensure that a high level of life sustaining moisture is maintained within the workings.

Food & Feeding Habits of Termites

Termites feed on cellulose products including wood, wood products, bark, cardboard and paper. If these products are breaking down due to fungal activity or other organisms, they can be more attractive to termites. The worker termites consume food where they find it. They then return to the colony, where the other castes and young workers feed on the secretions from the worker termites. The use of insecticidal dust blown into a termite colony will eradicate the colony through the spread of the insecticide via the grooming habits of the termites and also the canabalistic nature of termites. The dust is also spread via the consumption of the secretions from the worker termites.

Feeding Range of Subterranean Termites

Most subterranean termites make their passages underground, usually in the top 20cm of the soil, and will attack timber in contact with the ground or construct their earthen tubes up vertical surfaces until they reach a food source. The range, from a colony, which termites forage for a food source varies depending on the species, type of soil, available food source and moisture content. This range can be up to 50 metres or more from the colony.

Location of Subterranean Termite Nests

Often, when houses exist within the range of a termite colony, extensive damage can occur in a short period of time.

Inspection After Treatment

It is necessary to confirm the effect of the treatment to the tree/stump with an inspection 2-3 weeks after treatment. This will involve the use of the thermal probe to confirm that the nest temperature is reduced and the termite colony has been made or will become extinct.  All of these houses are within the range of a termite colony through their All of these houses are within the range of a termite colony through their subterranean tunnels