Termites are active all year round, but particularly so in the hotter months from November through to March, when they travel further from the nest in search of food. As temperatures start heating up in Brisbane, so will termite activity, posing the question: is your home protected and ready to withstand a termite invasion?
What homes are at risk?
Unfortunately, since Brisbane is located in a high-risk area for subterranean termites, no homes are completely safe from being invaded. The hot, moist climate of the city in Summer provides conditions in which termites typically thrive.
Brisbane homes that are particularly at risk are those near well-established gum trees (within a 100-metre radius), as these can harbour termite nests. Suffice to say, if you’re house hunting during Spring or Summer for a new home, be aware of likely hot spots for termites around the property such as:
- Native trees,
- Ground moisture near the house (termites are attracted to water sources),
- Tree stumps,
- Wooden retaining walls,
- Loose timber on the ground,
- Woodpile stacks and
- Structural timber of the house in contact with ground soil.
And make sure you schedule a building and pest inspection before committing to buying a home! Termites can travel up to 50 metres underground to search for food, so they are definitely able to attack homes from outside property boundaries.
Signs of high-risk termite activity.
You might notice that there are more flying termites when the weather is warm and humid. A swarm of them will indicate that there is a nest nearby and that you need to give your local pest technician a call ASAP!
The swarmers are ‘alates’ which are termites who are leaving the nest to mate and start a new termite colony. Not all of the alates will survive a colonising flight. But those who do migrate and mate successfully will be attempting to set up nests in tree stumps, the roof cavities of houses and inside walls. They’ll be on the hunt for moist conditions, so your bathroom and laundry areas will be targets for nesting locations.
What to do if you find signs of termite activity.
While it takes three years for a termite nest to be able to cause significant damage, newlywed termites setting up a nest in your home is not something you need.
There isn’t too much you can do if you see swarming termites near your home, except stay calm and don’t disturb them. Turn off your lights and close your fly screens to ensure they don’t get inside the house. If there are dead ones on your doorstep, put them in a jar for us so we can correctly identify that these are ‘alates;’ winged termites.
If you see a swarm at around 6 p.m., with wings or termite bodies in or around your property, call us for an inspection immediately. There is likely to a be termite nest within 50 feet away, either on your property or your neighbours’. And don’t forget to schedule your yearly termite inspections!
