| Termites have a very useful role within our | | | | Report |
| environment, but when they invade and attack | | | | |
| your home, they can become a hated enemy, a | | | | Essentially a termite building inspection |
| source of heartache and anxiety. Every | | | | report is designed to: |
| problem has a solution, and there is no need | | | | |
| for any job turning into a nightmare. There | | | | 1. Detect old damage and active termites. |
| are however, certain practices in the pest | | | | |
| control industry that should be adopted for | | | | 2. Gives you the element of risk of |
| all inspections and treatments, and some | | | | infestation. |
| "dodgy" operators that should be avoided like | | | | |
| the plague!In Australia, one house in three | | | | 3. Gives you tips on reducing the chances of |
| at some stage will become affected by | | | | termite infestation. |
| termites, which is more prevalent than damage | | | | |
| caused by fire, storm and flood combined. | | | | 4. Gives us enough information to accurately |
| This article will examine how to prevent | | | | quote you on a termite treatment and to use |
| termite attack, methods of inspection, | | | | the most appropriate method. |
| protection, control and treatment.Termite | | | | |
| Control | | | | 5. Identifies species of termites and (most |
| | | | importantly) |
| Control of pest termites involves | | | | |
| identifying the species, locating the nest | | | | 6. Educates you about termites.Economically |
| and choosing the best eradication methods. A | | | | Important Pest Termites |
| combination of doing regular, competent | | | | |
| building inspections in termite-prone areas, | | | | Out of the 258 described termite species in |
| using naturally resistant or treated timbers | | | | Australia, only a few timber-damaging species |
| in buildings, and installing chemical and | | | | are of concern to us. The five families that |
| physical soil barriers around buildings is | | | | include the most common pest species in |
| necessary to prevent further problems.Houses | | | | Australia are:1. Mastotermitidae (1 pest |
| nearby may often have termite nests nearby in | | | | species - Giant Termite, Mastrotermes |
| trees, stumps and underground but these may | | | | darwinensis) |
| not contain pest species. When they do, it | | | | |
| should be the main focus of the termite | | | | 2. Kalotermitidae (several pest species of |
| control technician to locate and treat these | | | | 'dry-wood termites', including the introduced |
| areas before any protection is implemented. | | | | Cryptotermes brevis) |
| Too often the technician will "advise" the | | | | |
| worried homeowner that termites may be | | | | 3. Termopsidae (1 pest species - Dampwood |
| "anywhere within 100 metres" of the property | | | | termite, Porotermes adamsoni) |
| and its impossible to pinpoint exactly where | | | | |
| they may be coming from.In my opinion, if you | | | | 4. Rhinotermitidae (7 pest species, |
| don't even try to find out the origin of the | | | | including Coptotermes acinaciformes) |
| problem, your chances of gaining control of | | | | |
| the problem dramatically drop. Even if the | | | | 5. Termitidae (5 pest species, including |
| house is surrounded by dense bushland, I | | | | Nasutitermes walkeri)The Giant Termite |
| think it is definitely worth the time and | | | | (Mastotermes darwinensis) has the greatest |
| expense of test drilling and treating ALL | | | | potential for destruction. However, it is |
| trees and stumps surrounding the property | | | | limited to the tropical areas of northern |
| within a 50-100 metre radius, because that is | | | | Australia. It attacks any wood in contact |
| where most infestations originate. If it | | | | with the ground including shrubs and trees, |
| means drilling 40-60 trees or investigating | | | | as well as paper, leather, clothing and other |
| all surrounding homes, isn't that a lot | | | | materials. It is a large-bodied primitive |
| better than ignoring a possible source of | | | | species that usually forms small colonies and |
| infestation?Most pest control companies will | | | | has no true worker caste.West Indian Dry-wood |
| not go to this extra effort, and will try to | | | | Termite |
| convince the client that their baiting | | | | |
| technique or soil barrier system is designed | | | | The introduced West Indian Dry-wood Termite |
| to protect your home in all circumstances. | | | | (Cryptotermes brevis) is considered to be the |
| DON'T BELIEVE THEM! Better investigations and | | | | world's worst termite pest as it can eat even |
| inspections lead to better termite protection | | | | very small timber objects with few external |
| and treatments. Its only common sense to | | | | signs of damage, can quickly take over from |
| take all effort to find out the origin of the | | | | native termite species, can survive in quite |
| attack.Termite Inspection of Pest Species | | | | dry conditions, and is easily transported. If |
| | | | it is found, it should be reported to the |
| Termite identification in Sydney Australia | | | | relevant government authority. It has been |
| is highly specialized and pest controllers | | | | found in Brisbane and Sydney, as well as |
| need to thoroughly inspect all areas of the | | | | other areas on several occasions.Most |
| property before any protection or treatment | | | | Destructive Species |
| is begun. This may be conducted with the | | | | |
| following equipment:Flashlight with bright | | | | However the most destructive species overall |
| light | | | | in Australia is Coptotermes acinaciformes. It |
| | | | is distributed throughout the continent and |
| This is essential and krypton bulbs give the | | | | uses tree stumps, living trees, spaces under |
| best light for torches generally available | | | | buildings and even walls as nesting sites. |
| today. LED torches, headlamps and flashlights | | | | From the nest site, any wooden structure |
| are the next generation inspection tools and | | | | within a 100-metre radius can be attacked via |
| should be used when they come onto the | | | | underground tunnels. Although they usually |
| market.A termite sounding donger | | | | need contact with soil, some nests of this |
| | | | termite species have even been found several |
| A fiberglass rod with a small plastic ball | | | | floors up in city buildings or on ferries.A |
| at the end. It is designed to run along | | | | common species that nests in Sydney's coastal |
| skirting boards, higher placed timbers and | | | | bushland is Nasutitermes walkeri. It forms |
| other exposed timbers. When it runs across | | | | distinctive round ball-shaped nests that are |
| termite infested timber the tone changes, | | | | especially abundant in the years following |
| indicating hollowed out timber.A Moisture | | | | major bushfires (as it mainly nests in |
| Meter | | | | stressed trees). It can also damage fences, |
| | | | poles and wood on the ground, but it rarely |
| It is designed to pick up high moisture | | | | attacks buildings. This species has the |
| content in walls and timbers. Termites bring | | | | largest soldiers (up to 6 mm long) of the |
| up moisture from the soil and into the walls | | | | Nasutitermes genus, with the characteristic |
| and timbers.A Termatrac microwave tracking | | | | nasute head.High Risk Suburbs |
| device | | | | |
| | | | Termite control in Sydney, Australia is |
| Termatrac is a breakthrough development in | | | | particularly important in these high risk |
| the building inspection detection of | | | | suburbs:Castle Hill |
| termites, invented and developed in Australia | | | | |
| using technology similar to radar, Termatrac | | | | Winston Hills |
| is the exciting answer to detecting termites | | | | |
| through timber, plaster board, brick or | | | | Dural |
| masonry with no interference to the building | | | | |
| material or termite activity. With no | | | | Baulkham Hills |
| drilling, tapping or prodding, Termatrac is | | | | |
| the answer to termite detection without | | | | Wahroonga |
| termite defection! With Termatrac, the pest | | | | |
| professional enjoys the advantage of accurate | | | | Frenchs Forest |
| detection and customer peace of mind.Box | | | | |
| cutter & Tape | | | | Manly |
| | | | |
| If termite infested timber is located, we | | | | Epping |
| may cut it with a "Stanley" knife and expose | | | | |
| the interior of timber, identifying the | | | | Carlingford |
| species of termites then seal it back up with | | | | |
| tape so as not to disturb the | | | | LeichhardtWe service all these areas as well |
| termites.Listening Device | | | | as Australian capital cities Brisbane, Gold |
| | | | Coast, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth, |
| This listens to termite sounds in the | | | | Hobart and Darwin.Remember, if you follow all |
| internal of the walls. However, if you tap | | | | of the advice in this article, selecting a |
| the wall with your hand and put your ear up | | | | qualified Termite Expert who is aware of, and |
| to the wall you can hear the soldier termites | | | | implements appropriate termite inspections, |
| communicate by tapping their mandibles onto | | | | protection and treatments will help prevent a |
| the timbers.Home Inspection | | | | problem job from turning into a nightmare.You |
| | | | can arrange for a comprehensive inspection by |
| A home inspection for termites is known in | | | | a qualified Termite Expert simply by emailing |
| Sydney Australia as a building inspection and | | | | our office at au or Phone: 1300 131 449 for |
| includes a pest report and a building report. | | | | more termite (white-ant) information, to book |
| It involves a thorough visual inspection of | | | | a termite inspection with one of our members, |
| the sub floor, roof void interior, exterior, | | | | or to arrange a quote for treatment of |
| and other areas of the property. An average | | | | termites.** Webmasters - Please feel free to |
| house takes anywhere from one to two hours to | | | | use this article for your own use - as long |
| complete. Cost varies from $160-$360 | | | | as you provide a link back to us at and do |
| depending on the size of the house and | | | | not change any information unless you advise |
| access. This is including G.S.T. TaxThe | | | | us at au - this article is otherwise subject |
| report consists of multiple pages setting out | | | | to normal copyright legislation.Article |
| the areas of concern and what to do to | | | | written by Bruce Gow . Bruce holds |
| rectify problems. Digital photos are | | | | Certificate 1V in Urban Pest Management and |
| available upon request. Please remember a | | | | holds Termite Specialist Accreditation |
| termite inspection report is designed to | | | | amongst many other pest control |
| detect termites at an early stage as to | | | | certifications. He owned and managed Best |
| reduce the amount of damage to your house. It | | | | Pest Control (NSW) Pty Ltd , a successful |
| does not stop termites. It is strongly | | | | termite and pest control firm for 24 years, |
| recommended a termite inspection report is | | | | and now acts as an internet consultant for |
| carried out at least once every twelve months | | | | the new owner.Bruce also works as a search |
| and every three to six months for high risk | | | | engine marketer and created for Australian |
| areas.Note: There is no household insurance | | | | Search Engine Optimization. |
| that covers you for termite damage.Termite | | | | |