Entering “termites in house” into the search bar tells us ‘a homeowner’s worst nightmare’ has come true. Variations, such as ‘termites with wings in house‘ or ‘termite nest in house’ all tell the same story.
You Want To Know What To Do and How To Get Rid of the Termites in Your House? Now!
It’s easy for us to say… “Don’t panic” but do take a breath and realise termites eat very slowly and nothing really changes in a week or so, but
- Don’t disturb them any further.
- Don’t spray them.
- Don’t tear the timbers apart to see how much more damage you can find.
- Do read the last paragraph, below.
If You Have Found Them Eating Timbers of the House?
Termites To hollow out a timber takes months and if you don’t disturb them any further, it is so easy to add bait to the timber in which they are feeding.
The bait is taken back to kill the queen and the whole nest. They prefer the taste of bait to the timber… which is why baiting is the most reliable method used.
If You Have Found Flying Termites in the House?
Sometimes termites get things mixed up. Before human civilisation and buildings, termites being weak at flying chose to launch into the evening sky from the highest part of their workings… usually well up a tree. The extra height allows them to fly further before they land.
If they have chosen to launch from timbers inside your home, it’s because Aussie termites have had only a couple of hundred years of eating buildings and they haven’t yet evolved to sort out the difference between inside and outside… so, go to the question just above. They are eating (and launching) from timber inside your house.
If You Have Found Termites with Wings in the House?
If there are thousands of them it is almost certainly because they launched from inside but if there are only, say dozens, it is because they have flown in through an open door or window… probably attracted to the light. Look around outside and you will probably find more, many of which might have shed their wings, being of no further use to these randy reproductives looking to establish a nest. These termites have left a nearby nest and they are going to die if they can’t find what they need: food (wood), a constant source of moisture and security in a damp cave they can make against some wood with constant moisture. Those conditions aren’t available inside your house; against a fallen log or branch on damp ground, maybe. If it makes you feel better, by all means, get out the fly spray to kill the winged (or recently wingless) termites… NOT the ones eating inside timber.
Is There a Termite Nest in the House?
Almost certainly no (for the reasons given in the above answer). The exceptions are the stories told around the bar at pest management conferences because it seldom happens. If it does, it is maybe because the drainage of a flat-roofed building was blocked up with decaying leaves… and even then, that part of the roof would need to be shaded or the water would evaporate in the summer between rain events. Remember, they need their water source to be constant.
How To Get Rid of Termites in Houses?
You can actually do it yourself. There is a DIY termite treatment, identical in formulation to the baits the professionals use; it is just a matter of following the illustrated and practical instructions that come with it:
attach the bait to the outside of the infested timber in your home by covering a small hole you make in the surface of the timber with the foil bag of bait so the workers can get directly inside to the bait. Keep feeding them until there is no more feeding. Job done; that colony is dead. This bait is not harmful to humans or pets. It works. That’s why professionals continue to choose to bait ever since it became available over 20 years ago.
If you had a swarm of termites from inside your home, you can apply the bag of bait to the launching site or, look around, you may be able to find timbers in say window or door frames, maybe panelling… down where you can reach them more easily. Go to killing termites for helpful, more detailed suggestions.
Questions & Answers
What Do Termites Eat?
Just cellulose, that’s the stuff wood is made of. And they sometimes eat other things made from wood, like paper and cardboard
Do Termites Eat Concrete?
A. No, but they can fit through the smallest of cracks in concrete following the scent of decaying wood source.
Are There Termites in Antarctica?
No. Being consistently cold, Termites have not been able to conquer Antarctica as they need 3 things to survive, food, water and warmth.
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