Termites which live in dry timber, and are adapted to obtaining their water requirements from wood in which they live. They do not have contact with the soil. They are extremely slow acting. One species, Cryptotermes Brevis spp., "The West Indian Dry Wood Termite" is an exotic (imported) insect. Department of Primary Industry must be notified if Cryptotermes Brevis spp. are identified so that a specialised treatment can be arranged. The major local variety, Cryptotermes primus spp. can be treated in a simpler manner.

Treatment methods available:
Treatment for Drywood Termites other than Cryptotermes Brevis spp. involves the spraying of the unpainted side of attacked timber with a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, which is mixed with an oil base to maximise penetration into the timbers. Painted timbers need to be injected around attacked areas. Drywood Termite treatments should be performed once each five years. Treatment for Cryptotermes Brevis spp. involves covering of the structure with tenting and introducing a fumigant gas. This work would be co-ordinated by Department of Primary Industries.

Termites which are found in association with damp, decaying wood, have no extensive underground gallery system, and do not form a large central colony. They are usually found in forest and woodland and are not a pest to man.

An organism which tunnels into wood and may also damage other materials. There are five common types of borers, all of which are beetles. They are the Pinhole borer, Powderpost beetle, Furniture beetle, Queensland pine beetle and European house beetle. The five beetles differ in appearance, life cycles, food preferences and damage potential.

Treatment methods available:
Treatment for Borers involves the spraying of the underside of susceptible flooring with a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, which is mixed with an oil base to maximise penetration into the timbers. Borer treatments should be carried out every year for three consecutive years.

Wood decay is caused by certain fungi which destroy the cellular content of wood, often leading to collapse. Moisture allows the fungi to develop and feed on the cells of timber. This often occurs in areas that have a high moisture content like under laundries, bathrooms, kitchens and sometimes damaged or faulty guttering providing moisture to areas.

Moisture also attracts termites, as the decaying timber provides them with wood (carbohydrate), fungal growth (protein) and moisture. So the areas affected by fungal decay need to be improved as soon as possible to minimise not only termite attack but the destruction of timber by fungal decay.

Treatment methods available: Unless the moisture source, which is causing the decay problem, is attended to then the fungal attack will continue. In fact the attack will multiply and cause further damage. Removal of the moisture source will eventually result in the fungal dying but this can take some considerable time.

The only way that the problem can be arrested quickly is by use of octo borates. These materials penetrate damp timbers and kill the fungal growth. The octo borates are returned in the timber once the moisture is removed and act against any further fungal growth. The octo borates also preserve inaffected timber from fungal attack.