Termite Control Services
Greenleaf Pest Control specialises in termite treatments and inspections in Sydney.
We generally recommend that regular termite inspections be undertaken on properties to detect termites as early as possible. If a termite problem does exist on your property, we can recommend and implement a range of treatment options to best protect your home or property. We also specialise in recommending and implementing a number of steps that may be taken to help protect your property against termites.
Set out below is some general information on termites and some household tips to help protect your property against the risk of a termite infestation.
Thermal Imaging Inspections
Thermal imaging offers a new, state of the art termite detection tool.
Highly effective and does not cause any damage to walls, floors or ceilings. This camera gives the homeowners visible proof of a termite infestation.
Locating termites has its limitations but this camera gives us a more thorough way of detecting the termite activity in homes.Termites generate heat and once they have entered a building the heat can be detected in the walls, floors and roof. A thermal camera detects this heat signature and indicates the exact location of any termite infestation.
Advantages of a thermal imaging termite inspection are:
- – Non-invasive and non-intrusive
- – Scans all areas, walls floors and ceilings
- – No radiation or chemicals used
- – No damage to the house.
- – Accurately locates where to put chemicals for best effect
- – Pictures to provide evidence of infestation
Some more information about termites
Termites otherwise known as “White Ants” live in colonies. A colony consists of many castes. The size of the colony can vary from hundreds to hundreds of thousands, depending on the species of termite. Their nest can be ground moulds or arboreal structures on the side of a tree. The CSIRO claims one in every 3 houses has had termites or have termites at any particular time.
Termites can cause many thousands of dollars damage to your home, including the cost of treating the infestation or the cost of repairing the damage.
The main function of the queen of the colony is reproduction. A queen can lay more than 1000 eggs a day and sometimes lives for up to 20 years. Some termites have the ability to give the queen help in the reproduction process. This is done by selecting some other termites to become secondary queens.
The worker caste termite performs all the main duties of the colony except defence and reproduction. It is the worker termite that does all the damage to your home. The worker termite is wingless, blind and sterile.
The Soldier caste termite is the caste that helps pest controllers to identify the termites. They defend the colony when they are in trouble. Any breaches in the termites workings and they send the soldiers to investigate.
The reproductive termites or alates are the future kings and queens. During November and December each year they go on a colonizing flight in search of the new nesting spots. Once the perfect place is found a couple must mate to start the colonizing process. The size of the colony will determine how many alates are released. Some can be in the thousands.
Termites feed on timber, and more specifically on cellulose. Cellulose is in cardboard, paper and timber. Termites get their protein from decaying wood, such as decaying stumps or loose wood around the house. Termites also need moisture to survive. Their soft bodies make them vulnerable, so most termites need to stay inside their tunnels (mud trails) to survive. Termites can forage for 50 or so meters from their nests. But this depends on the species of termite.
General household tips to reduce the chance of termite infestation
- – Remove all loose wood on the ground surrounding the outside or underneath the house.
- – Remove all stumps and dead trees from around the property.
- – Fix any leaking taps, downpipes, and overflow from hotwater and air conditioning systems.
- – A regular six monthly or yearly termite inspection by a qualified pest controller is strongly recommended.
- – Ensure full access by your pest controller is available to your subfloor to ensure inspection is more effective (cut access traps if needed).
Please call on 0425 288 557 or email us to info@greenleafpestcontrol.com.au for more information on termites, termite inspections and treatment options for your property in Sydney.
