Termites

Termites, or “white ants” as they are sometimes referred to, are arguably the most destructive insect pest in Australia, causing many millions of dollars in damage to buildings each year.  In fact, one in four Australian homes will be affected by termites in their lifetime and termite damage is not covered by home insurance.  Thankfully, effective termite treatment & prevention measures are available & Q Pest’s skilled & experienced technicians are able to advise you on the best protection plan for your home or business. Q Pest offer a free, no obligation quote for a range of treatment and preventative measures.

Subterranean Termites

There are three categories of termites: dampwood, drywood and subterranean.  Dampwood termites usually live in damp, rotting logs or rotting parts of dead or living trees.  Drywood termites obtain their moisture requirements from wood in which they live and have no contact with either soil or with any other source of moisture.  Subterranean termites are generally ground-dwelling or require contact with the soil or some constant source of moisture and it is this category of termites that we primarily encounter causing damage to buildings in South-East Queensland.

Subterranean termites are social insects, working and living together in groups (colonies).  Each colony has several different types (castes) which differ in body shape and behaviour. Each of these castes has a certain job to fulfil and does this for the term of its life. Each termite works for the good of the colony to ensure its survival.  There are three main castes within the colony: Workers, Soldiers and Alate Reproductives.

Workers

The largest caste in the colony and the termite that causes all the damage are the worker caste.  They provide all the labour, construction of workings and galleries, collect food and feed the nymphs (young) and other castes within the colony. Usually a milky white in colour they are blind, wingless and possess a very soft thin cuticle (skin). As the King, Queen and Soldier castes are unable to feed themselves this job is undertaken by the workers. This passing on of food throughout the colony from one termite to another is a trait that we can exploit in termite treatments.

Soldiers

As its name suggests, the Soldier caste is responsible for the protection of the nest against predators such as ants. The Soldiers’ primary role is the defence of the colony in the case of a breach in the workings (with the Worker caste carrying out repairs).  The Soldier termites usually have a different shaped head & large mandibles compared with the Workers. In the species of subterranean termites called Nasutitermes, the Soldiers differ from the Workers in their colony in that they have a teardrop shaped head with a pronounced snout that can shoot a fine sticky material when protecting the colony.

Alates (Winged Reproductives)

Alates are the winged reproductives that fly from the nest, usually in the Spring and Summer, when humidity is high and conditions may favour stormy weather. They can be up to 15mm in length with four wings of equal size and length. When the conditions are right the alates (potential kings and queens) from all nests in the area will take to the air on a colonizing flight often numbering in the millions in an attempt to start up new nests. Only a small number of these alates will survive to pair up, shed their wings, & find a suitable place to establish a new colony.

Once the colony is established the primary role of the Queen is to produce eggs. The Queen’s abdomen may grow to over 5cm in length in some species and allow her to lay over 2000 eggs per day. These eggs will develop into either Alates (Winged Reproductives), Workers or Soldiers. In some species, should the original Queen become sick or die, a Reproductive Alate will take over her role allowing the nest to survive indefinitely. Such a Queen is known as a Secondary, Supplementary or Neoteinic Queen.

Termite Food Sources

The basic food requirement for all Termites is cellulose.  Cellulose is found in a variety of materials and products including timber, paper, cardboard, material and carpet.  Any items containing cellulose are susceptible to termite attack and damage.  Termites may also damage materials that they cannot digest, e.g. rubber, plastics, metal & mortar.  Most timbers are susceptible to termite attack though a few, such as Cypress Pine & Jarrah, are known to be naturally resistant.  Protein is also a food source and is readily available by termites consuming other termites that die within the colony. Some species of termites also consume fungus, grasses and other vegetation.

Termite Nests

If a male and female Alate survive the colonizing flight and successfully pair up they must find a suitable nesting site. A location with both moisture and a food source is ideal, including but not limited to a fence post, tree, stump or even beneath a patio attached to a house. The Queen will initially tend the eggs herself until enough Workers are present to take over that role. The royal Chamber is usually deep & central in the nest which helps to preserve the humidity and temperature in the chamber. As the colony grows, and the initial food source begins to run out, the Worker termites will begin searching for a new food source. It is at these times that buildings, fences & other structures become particularly vulnerable to termite attack. The termites will construct tunnels allowing them to travel safely to the food source. 

Initially, these tunnels may be underground but can be constructed to travel up walls, piers or any other objects to enable access to a food source. Once the Workers have accessed the new food source they will slowly eat the cellulose and take it back to the nest to feed the other termites in the colony. This 24 hour, 7 day a week food gathering process is a very natural & necessary process for the survival of the termite colony, and in the right setting can be beneficial to the natural environment.  However, when buildings & other structures are targeted as a food source the resulting damage can have devastating, inconvenient & expensive consequences for the property owner.