With the large number of termite inspections carried out, it’s not surprising pest managers come across some amazing and unusual termite activity.
In this Spring issue, we showcase some of the best termite images submitted by our readers.
Breaking into the void
Col Jones from Pest Affects on the Central Coast found a spectacular Coptotermes creation (main picture, above) in a hidden wall void.
“This was a unique termite experience and an opportunity to locate a live nest in what would normally have been an inaccessible area,” explained Mr Jones.
“We had been managing activity outbreaks at this three-storey suspended slab and rendered beachside property for 12 months.
“We eventually decided to cut access into what we suspected was an inaccessible void behind a filled masonry block lower level garage wall. “
We had drill probed and used an endoscope to confirm if the area behind the wall was in fact a void. After confirming this, we got an engineer’s report and cut through the block wall to access the void.
“It was a eureka moment – we located a large Coptotermes acinaciformis nest.” Scan the QR code to watch the video of the Pest Affects team breaking through the wall and discovering the nest.
A worrying welcome home
When a customer returns from holiday to find their home full of alates, you can imagine the panicked call! Manda Wilson of Wilson’s Pest Control, Sydney, shares her experience.
“We had a customer who was on holiday and when she returned she found alates throughout the home and shed outside. We received a frantic call asking us to come out to her home as she was concerned that she may have termites,” said Ms Wilson.
(photo credit: Manda Wilson/Wilson’s Pest Control)
“The property is about 40 years old and located in Blacktown, Western Sydney. Garden beds have been built up over the weepholes around the house, and the hot water unit along the side of residence was dripping close to the subfloor. The customer also had a pool which had a leaking pipe and the water from the pool overflow was slowly draining into the subfloor area, creating a wet, moist soil.
“On arrival we saw clear evidence of termites. We conducted an inspection of the whole property – roof, subfloor, external and internal. We located a large area in the subfloor with termite mudding, the species was Coptotermes acinaciformis.
“We treated the termite activity, then once all termites were eliminated we installed a termite zone around the home.”