AUSINSPECTPest
& Asset Maintenance
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Common Termite Questions & Food for Thought By: Stephen Koelewyn - Based on my Knowledge and Experience Q. Can a given property have 100% termite protection? A. No No given property can be fully protected against termite activity, termites are part of nature and nature will continue to function around us in the foreseeable future, as termite species are not nearing extinction termite activity will continue. The risk factor of termite infestation and/or activity can be reduced significantly by multiple factors. A property located in the colder regions of the planet are less likely to have termite activity as the environmental conditions deter termite activity. A property in the tropics is more likely to have termite activity as the conditions are moist and warm. Like in any of natures wonders abnormalities to the norm will always exist, isolated termite activity could possibly be found in a man made building located in the colder regions of the globe that maintains balanced conditions for termites existence. The application of termiticides or other termite control methods will only at best reduce the risk of exposure to termite activity for a limited period of time, many persons have the false sense of security with regard to termite activity believing that the property they own or occupy is safe from termite infestation and when they discover that termites are active or activity has occurred suffer apparent financial loss and at times extreme emotional anxiety and stress. It is extremely important for me to try and educate persons who may have only a limited understanding to the nature and biology of termites that termite damage can occur to any property and that even with the most extensive termite preventative measures undertaken the risk can only ever be reduced but not fully eliminated. Q. Can I get a termite inspection that will determine without doubt that no termite activity or damage exists? A. No It is reasonable for the general public to expect that a termite inspection carried out by a termite expert to detect any termite activity and/or damage would be detected by an employed termite expert and that professional advice would be provided accordingly, because this is the reason that the termite expert has been employed. If I were a layman in termite nature and biology with a limited understanding I would certainly be expecting that the service I am paying for would produce these results as a minimum, as this is the reason that I employed the termite expert in the first place. In legal terms this often becomes the area of contention as the law is generally easier where things are black or white or definitive, when it comes to termites nothing is definitive nor is it black & white. The fact is that it is not always possible for even the most experienced and competent termite expert with the most advanced technology to detect termite activity and/or termite damage. Firstly termite species that attack buildings are often sub-terrainean termite species, the prime purpose of these termites existence is to maintain a fully concealed existence and where they expose themselves to visual inspection the termites are likely to have actually failed, going against their natural instinct for survival. Where a termite infestation is initiating or a termites nest is in generally early stages of development it would be humanly impossible to readily detect this termite activity. A termite expert can only base his/her findings upon indicators that are observed in one manner or another, if indicators are not present then the question arises as to how is a determination to be made? Based on this it would always be prudent to assume that termite activity is present at the time of any termite inspection but this termite activity is not necessarily readily detectible. This would possibly provide for extensive legal debate even though the fact of the matter may be that termite activity was not readily detectible. Extract from Australian Standards 3660.2-2000 sub-section 3.2.4 "Frequency of inspections" Regular, competent inspections should be carried out at least on an annual basis but more frequent inspections are strongly recommended. Additional inspections are recommended when bridging or breaching of a barrier may have occurred, such as by home additions, alterations, earthworks or landscaping adjacent to the building. Such routine inspections will not prevent termite attack, but will allow evidence of further termite activity to be detected, provided access to all areas is available and there are no concealed entry points. Early detection will allow remedial treatment to be commenced sooner and damage to be minimised. Regular inspections will not prevent termite attack, but may help in the detection of termite activity. Early detection will allow remedial treatment to be commenced sooner and damage to be minimised. Note: Failure to conduct regular, competent inspections may void some building or insurance warranties.
Q. I have had my property treated to prevent termites, is my property safe from future termite damage? A. No Although your property has had a preventative termite treatment carried out by a pest control company your property is still exposed to future termite attack and the reasons why are as follows:
The fact is that no property is safe from future termite infestation it is of utmost importance to understand that ongoing, periodic inspections are critical to detecting termite activity in it's early stages. If termites are dedicated to breaching a termite barrier that the colony has identified it is known that the colony will sacrifice large numbers of termites to create a trail through or around these barriers. Termite mudding can be pact so thick as to protect the termite workings from the exposure of the chemical. This has led to the understanding that slow acting chemicals are more effective on termites than highly repellent chemicals - slow acting chemicals bluff the termites into not reacting to the cause of their destruction.
Q. Newer termite products claim to eliminate termite colonies, therefore can we assume that termite activity will be reduced in future? A. No Termites are part of nature and termite colonies appear to be increasing in most habitable areas that are within the commonly called termite belts of the globe. Cities and towns are forever growing and the termites are finding more favourable conditions in or around human habitats to reproduce and establish new nests. I have been fortunate to work in Israel many years ago, I did hold an Israeli pest control licence as well, the general public in Israel would most certainly make claim that termites do not exist in Israel however the fact is quite different and makes for a good case study. Just north of the Israeli coastal town of Natanya is a village called Michmoret, this particular area has a higher known occurrence of termites than other areas in Israel, termites in this area have been increasing their numbers significantly as the construction boom continues to surrounding areas, as these termites reproductives fly the occurrence of termites is slowly but surly increasing to the towns and villages north, south and east of this village. From Hadera to Yavne the occurrence of termites appears to be steadily increasing. The introduction of air conditioning units and hot water storage units appear to be major contributing factors to the increase of termite activity, these two items will discharge moisture on a regular basis when in use, the discharge of this moisture is often onto ground keeping the ground moist and therefore providing termites with an ideal moisture source for colony survival. Although we are seeing more apparent success in colony control of individual colonies the conditions around human habitats appear to be more favourable to colony initialisation and based upon current observations of termite activity and damage I would conclude that termite activity is increasing faster than what we can detect and eliminate termite colonies, it only takes some termite species 5 years to go from reproductive flight to having a colony population that is able to cause damage to timbers in service. It would appear that the small percentage of reproductive termites finding ideal conditions for colony initialisation is increasing significantly around human habitats. Theoretically newer termite control methods should be reducing termite activity across the board so to speak, many of these systems a relatively new and only time will tell if termite damage is on the decrease. Many of the marketing persons of these newer system assure us that termite activity will be reduced but having observed and studying termites for many years I am very sceptical as to the future reduction in termite activity in populated areas. I would more readily accept the opinion that termite activity will increase. Only time will tell.
This page will continue to be developed, additions will be added in future.
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Stephen Koelewyn - NSW Builders Licence 45109c - Building Consultant Licence BC213 - Pest Control Licence 2025Home
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