Termites are without a doubt an annoying lot that just can’t seem to stay away from Brisbane. In fact, the pervasiveness of these little pests has been so extreme in the recent past that some homeowners in Brisbane have been forced to sell or lease their homes just to evade the unbecoming menace. Nonetheless, controlling and eliminating a rapidly growing termite colony is easy especially if you spot the tell-tale signs of a termite infestation early enough. Here’s a quick primer on how to detect termites in your property.
1. A Characteristic Slight Rattling in your House’ Woodwork
Most termites species have this characteristic ‘clicking’ sound whenever they are chewing through timber and wood. The sound is so distinct that it is difficult to mistake it for anything. And it is then complemented with the presence of mud-like stuff that typically lines your house’s galleries and vents in an irregular fashion. This is often a mixture of saliva, faeces, and soil. The termites could also excavate your interior woodwork only leaving an ultra-thin layer on the surface as a disguise. If you happen to break this thin layer, you will be accosted with the same mud-like substance.
2. Presence of Swarmers
Swarmers, also known as ‘flying ants,’ are another unmistakable indication of an impending termite infestation. Ordinarily, they will sprout just next to a light source – thereby indicating that there’s a thriving nest nearby. This swarm is made of a group/collection of fertile female and male reproductives that will abandon their nest to establish their next colony. Swarming in Brisbane is mostly common during spring and, at times, in the weeks just preceding autumn.
3. Hard-to-open Doors and Windows
Typically mistaken for damp and hot weather, warped floors and stiff doors can also mean that a termite infestation is underway. The moisture/saliva that they produce when eating away the woodwork and tunneling through floors, window frames, etc. results in the warping that then makes it hard to prise your doors and windows open.
4. Presence of Termite Droppings
One of the most common giveaways of the presence of a thriving termite colony is frass – also known as termite droppings. In fact, pest control experts from Executive Pest Control Brisbane, for example, will typically look for frass when evaluating whether or not an infestation is underway, especially one involving drywood termites. Unlike your regular subterranean termites, the more destructive and ruinous drywood termites will rarely use their faeces to put up tunnels and galleries. Instead, they use it to mark their territory, something that is ordinarily exhibited by the presence of tiny black marks or a brown-black powdery substance around and in the area of infestation.
5.Termite Tunnels
Also known as termite galleries, these are harder to spot from the outside without the aid of specialized electronic detecting kits. These kits employ a combination of infrared detectors, x-rats, microwaves, electronic odour detectors, borescopes, and even sound detectors. Of course, it is not practical to spend thousands investing in such equipment yet you could just call a professional termite and pest control company for a fraction of the cost.
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