Dealing Termites on Trees
Q: Hi Ion, one question I have is how to deal with termites that are in a tree. I can see the mud tubes running up the outside of the tree, and they are active with termites in them. Can I tape a termite bait-pack under the tree, such that the opening in the pack is over the termite tunnel? Do I need to break the termite tunnel before applying the termite trap so the termites are encouraged to find the bait? Is there a better way of doing it? I’ve got two trees, in which this is occurring, and I can see a termite nest in the tree. Is it an option to destroy the nest? I don’t think it’s the only nest as termite tubes run higher into the tree. Anyway, thanks for an easy-to-use product. I’m getting activity in the traps and have started baiting”. Ion, Michael’s trees –
Ion: Okay, Michael’s trees are being infested by Nasutes termites. These are not a serious pest. Of course, if they started in your fence, they might be. But the Nasutes do not eat solid timber. The ones that are up in the tree, are leaf litter, and dead grass eaters. They come in on the outside of the tree and move around the outside of the tree, to find leaf litter and dead grass, which they carry back up the tree to the queen, who lives in the nest up in the branches. So, there’s no need to break open the tunnel and put bait on it. They’re not a serious pest, anyway. You can just keep breaking the tunnels if it gives you some satisfaction, and they’ll eventually leave. The nest might just starve off because they can’t get any food because Michael keeps breaking the tunnels all the time. You could, if you like, spray some insecticide on the outside of the tree, but again, that wouldn’t really make a lot of difference. If you wanted, if it’s within reach, you could get the net removed by an arborist. If it isn’t, make sure that your insurance is covered.
So, no, there’s no need to bait those termites.
