Now What?
First, don’t explore to see how much damage they’ve caused.
Quickly put things back to how they were and get advice.
Do-it-yourself termite control is now possible and good advice is freely available.
Killing Termite Workers is not Enough to Control Termites
You can easily kill thousands of termites as you open up timbers to see the extent of their damage, however mature termite queens can lay a thousand or more eggs a day.
Termite workers will just seal off at a narrow point just back toward the nest from the damage you’ve exposed. Then they will regroup and decide a new plan and direction to continue feeding.
You must destroy the termite colony to eliminate infestation.
Finding Live Termites is Your Chance to Help Them Self-Destruct
Termite bait is a cellulose powder to which you add water.
The simple principle is for you to pack some on the outside of a small opening you make into the timber where you found them (and where they are still busy).
You then cover this bait with aluminium foil taped to the timber so that termites can move from inside the timber out through the hole you’ve made, into the termite bait — which is moist and so much easier to harvest for the journey back to the termite nest.
It becomes like an extension to their mining operation only the food is better!
Inspect, Inspect, Inspect
Finding termites in one place doesn’t mean it’s the only place.
You should immediately inspect your whole home inside and out. Any new places you find termites should also be baited using the cooking foil ‘blister.’ Mud tubes at foundations and weep holes are your confirmation that termites are getting in from outside nests.
If you find the termite nest inside a large hollow tree, a stump, a stack of firewood, etc., you can physically destroy this or use an insecticide available from hardware stores.
