The White Ant Specialists of Griffth, NSW, explain why they use the Exterra Termite Baiting System from Ensystex.
Griffith is the regional service centre for the vast Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, one of the most productive agricultural regions in Australia. Thanks to irrigation, Griffith is rich in agriculture and the city is also known as Australia’s wine and food capital. Griffith has experienced strong commercial growth in recent years, and increased residential development has occurred with the construction of new suburbs – such as Collina, to the north east of the city – together with further housing developments in North Griffith, Mayfair and Pioneer.
Having been heavily involved in the building industry, Simon Devery saw the tremendous opportunity that existed for someone to offer the residents of the region a pest service that guaranteed to eliminate termite colonies and securely protect their homes and businesses. Three years ago, Simon formed The White Ant Specialists and appointed an experienced operations manager in Scott Keith to help him realise his goals.
“Termites are a major concern in this region and they can be difficult to control with some of the baiting systems out there,” explained Mr Devery. “I wanted to offer a baiting system though, for the business growth benefits it provided our company, and the environmental benefits that such systems provide. But I had to know I could guarantee our results.
“I soon saw the benefits of the Exterra Termite Interception and Baiting System and how it could meet my needs. Together with Scott, and with the assistance of Ensystex area manager, Michael O’Halloran, we have enjoyed extremely extensive growth in our business; we plan to double our business again in the next two years by continuing to lead the way in termite management, thanks to our partnership with Exterra.”
Mr Devery added, “We have used Exterra to eliminate termite infestations, and then provide ongoing protection, in historical churches, at Griffith’s leading wineries and commercial buildings, and in numerous residential properties, with a 100% success rate. You really cannot achieve better than that! We are of the firm belief that Exterra, with Requiem Termite Bait, is the only consistent system and bait in the Australian market. We always get feeding and quick colony elimination.”
Independent researchers from CSIRO have shown, in several peer-reviewed studies, that larger stations and bait sources are more likely to be located by termites, have higher recruitment rates and have the treated matrix removed at greater rates. Visiting termites also show greater site tenacity and tolerance to disturbance i.e. they will be less likely to abandon a station after the disturbance of inspections. This means large stations, such as Exterra’s large Quarterra In-ground Station, increase the chances that termites are intercepted sooner, eat more bait and do not vacate the stations until the colony is eliminated.
Independent research has also shown that termites frequently abandon smaller stations. This risks one being misled into believing that the colony was eliminated, only to find out a few months later that the termites are back. “This is why we like the certainty of colony elimination with Exterra,” said Mr Devery.
“The above-ground stations are also very practical in their design and can be adapted to suit most installations. Plus, there are bait bags available for use in unusual situations. We find the above-ground system very reliable,” he added.
Mr Keith sees great value in Exterra’s unique ‘Focus termite interception zone’ where soil micro-organisms work with Ensystex’s Focus Termite Attractant to produce the natural vapours that termites use to find their preferred food. This natural attractant is generated through the soil to direct the termites into the Exterra Stations.
“It gets the termites into in-ground stations sooner, so we can eliminate the colony more effectively,” explained Mr Keith. “This is particularly important in situations where we know termites are active in the ground, but there is no activity in the building on which to place above-ground stations.”
This requires a precisely engineered level of the attractant gas: low levels attract termites, because they prefer timber that is just starting to decay, but at higher levels, representing heavily decayed timbers, termites are deterred. Focus Termite Attractant was developed by Ensystex with the Colorado State University to ensure the attractant gas is continually produced at just the right levels. “It certainly seems to work well,” concluded Mr Keith.
Steve Broadbent, Regional Director, Ensystex
