Wood infested by termites usually looks similar to water-damaged wood or timber decaying through wood rot.
There are over 2,300 termite species worldwide with 300 species found in Australia. They can cause a lot of damage to your property if left unnoticed. Doing a termite control immediately you detect termite infestation will save you a lot of money. Below are the signs of termites that can lead to an infestation.
If you have a termite problem in your house, you will hear some noise from the walls and wood as they eat through. You will also hear soldier termites bang against the tunnels to signal danger to the others. Sometimes you may also detect vibrations in termite colonies.
Subterranean termites build mud tubes to ensure protection and adequate moisture. These mud tubes are usually built on walls, wood and on the floor from termite droppings and soil. Walls and wood that sound hollow when knocked upon and doors or windows that fit imperfectly are also signs of termites.
Wood infested by termites usually looks similar to water-damaged woods or wood rot. Termite-damaged wood will sound hollow when knocked and have tunnels. Termites eat wood and destroy its structural formation. The wood is left hollow, weak and much less stable. Termites will also cause costly damage to the appearance of the walls as they are get covered with termite droppings. The rate and kind of termite damage caused will also depend on the type of termite. For example, subterranean termites will damage mostly softwood and along its grain and at a faster rate. Drywood termites tend to eat hardwood at a slower pace and against its grain. Damage can also be seen when doors or windows start to stick. Termites damage doors, door frames and window frames. If termites attack a roof with wooden trusses, the roof may start to lose shape, bend and fall.
Termites also have a strict division of labour. The queen termite is for laying eggs and they usually have a bigger body than the other termites. The king termite's responsibilities are to identify new colonies and control the population. Its colour is dark brown.
The most common are the worker termites. They cause the most termite damage when compared to the rest. Their responsibilities are to find food and do all the work to maintain the colonies. They are blind and they also lack wings.
Soldier termites have a bigger body with huge mandibles as compared to workers. They are for colony protection in cases of invasion. Winged termites are also called swarmers. Their work is to reproduce for continuity. When the colony is mature, they will fly out of the nest to explore other colonies. Their wings are two-paired and are flat.
Termites are noisy eaters - you can listen to them chew through the walls and any wooden structures. If you hear click-like sounds and chewing noises, they might be the termites in the timber. If you find these unwanted guests living beneath the walls, apply suitable pest control measures. Do termite inspection in and out of the building. Tap the wood with a screwdriver. Any termite activity in the timber will cause holes inside and make it fragile. A tap by a screwdriver head will make the wood break. This shows termite presence. Make use of the moisture meter to determine the level of moisture in the wood. When termites attack the wood, they increase wood moisture which may also cause a wood colour change. High moisture content may be a result of termites. Always apply pest control immediately if you spot them. Check out for termites in window sills and house furniture. A thorough termite inspection should also be done in wet rooms like the kitchen and the bathroom. Moisture is essential for termite activity and these rooms are prone to have water disappear into timber and walls which might host the termites.
Coptotermes acinaciformis is said to be a highly destructive species in Australia. Their high secrecy level enables them to evade being detected and continue causing damage.
Coptotermes lacteus is another common species around coastal areas. They are known for making clay-walled mounds and they like to consume any wood damp.
Heterotermes ferox likes decaying wood and can coexist with other termite species.
Nasutitermes extiosus is another species that appears different from the other species types. It has a black head with cream in colour. They always build nests under other structures to conceal them. For example underneath a deck.
Nasutitermes walkeri species build their nests above ground mostly in trunks of trees.
Schedorhinotermes intermedius nests are mostly built in tree stumps and like timber that's on the ground for accelerated decaying.