Termite Misconceptions
In my travels I hear many things said by property owners which indicate some misconceptions about termites (white ants).
The first misconception is that termites won’t eat hardwood timbers
This is totally untrue, as our native termites have been feeding on Eucalypt timbers long before the first house was built. Some termite species actually prefer hardwood timbers, in fact the attractant timbers used in most professional baiting systems are hardwoods. Generally, termites will damage softwood timbers remarkably quicker than the more dense hardwood varieties, which is where this misconception comes from.
The second misconception is that if I have termites in my yard (in a tree stump for instance) and I leave them alone, they wont attack my buildings
The termite species needs to be properly identified, as it is true that some termite species will not attack sound seasoned timber.c
However if the termite species is a subterranean termite species that is a threat to seasoned timber, then I can guarantee that over time they will find and infest any unprotected food source. Termite activity can be used to indirectly eliminate the termite colony, and therefore reduce the pressure of infestation on your property.
The third misconception is that termites were brought in with a delivery of mulch or firewood
Once individual termites (workers and soldiers) are cut off from the colony, they become geriatric and no longer feed. They do not have reproductive capability and therefore cannot create more termites. It is highly likely that termites have started feeding on the mulch or firewood after it was delivered, which means there is a nest within range of your property.
