Termite infestation: Mum’s horror after finding two ‘sticks’ on her ceiling

Termites are insects that feed on wood and other cellulose-based products; they are mainly household pests, recycling dead and rotting wood and other plant matter and as a food source for many animals.

Termites are detritus or detritus feeders. They feed on dead plants and trees. Termites search for nutrients to obtain cellulose, an organic fiber found in wood and plant matter.

Wood is the main food for termites, but they can also eat other materials, such as paper, plastic, and dry matter. Most species prefer dead wood, but some termites feed on living trees. Each type of termite has its dietary preferences.

The termite’s mouth can chew dry matter. Although termites are only about 1 cm long, their nutritional appetites can cause adverse damage to homes, furniture, bookshelves, and books, all of which have nutritional value to termites.

Each colony has a Queen, King, workers, soldiers, and reproductives, which are like queens-in-waiting.

Fountain: pest management

Signs you may have termites

– Mud trails leading up the sides of buildings

– Accumulation of dried mud in the joints of the architraves of doors or windows

– Formation of blisters on the architrave of doors or windows, or on the baseboards

– Damp areas or damp spots on walls

– Weak knocking or chewing noises behind plaster walls

– Power outages and accumulation of earthy materials around power points.

– Soft flooring

– During spring and fall evenings, large swarms of “flying black ants” may actually be winged termites that break free from the nest. This is a strong indication of the presence of termite colonies.

What should you do if you suspect you have termites?

NO

– Try to guess what they are, even if you only suspect they might be termites, follow our checklist below.

– Annoy them or investigate further: this will scare them and make it harder to deal with.

– Try to kill them with pest sprays, home connections, or DIY methods from the internet; the only effective treatments for termites are through licensed pest controllers.

– Ignore them

DO

– Keep calm

– Act immediately

– Look in your meter box for a white ant or termite treatment sticker; it will show the treatments or inspections carried out previously and the company that carried them out with whom you should contact

– If there is no label on the meter box, contact an expert and have them perform a full activity inspection of your home

– Have the technician explain the inspection process, the scope of termite activity, treatment options, and how they work.

– If there appears to be damage, the technician will report the extent of the damage.

– Once the termites have been treated, be sure to perform a termite inspection at least once a year.

Fountain: termconfidence