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