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Understanding Termite Control in the Sunshine Coast Regions

With the ongoing and regular development of suburban estates around the Sunshine Coast, there has been increases in termite activity. At Action Termite Solutions, we want to arm you with the right information and guide you through the many options for Termite Management Systems on the market.

There are more than 300 species of termites native to Australia. On the Sunshine Coast, we tend to see three main species in and around homes.  Our Sentrex system was developed in Australia for local conditions. 

Unlike other termite barriers available on the market, the Sentrex system is a cheaper and more eco-friendly, sustainable option in the long term.

Is my property at risk for termites?

Certain factors can make a property more "at risk". 
Here are some things to consider in assessing your risk. Have you had timber stored up against the external walls of your house?  Does water pool close to your slab or against your external walls after rain? Do you have trees or branches touching your home's external walls or roof? Has your property had slab additions or property extensions without termite prevention systems being installed?  If you have a highset home, are the stirrups for your stumps clear of the dirt, or is the wood directly contact the ground? If you're concerned about termite risk to your home, book in a Free External Termite Risk Assessment with us today.

What can I do to reduce my risk for termites?

Pesticides not needed to treat termites effectively

While we support that there is certainty an appropriate role for chemicals in pest control we caution that such applications will often have unintended collateral repercussions with significant broad consequence. Pesticides not only kill small organisms and contaminate ground water they pass up the food chain through insects to larger predators.

Aggregated treatment was developed by Australian Government scientists and is a highly effective chemical free method of detecting and eradicating termites.  Termites inside the system are treated with small dose of metabolic powder which they then transfer back to the nest where it spreads and destroys all members of the colony.

Termite barrier perimeter continuity is routinely difficult to achieve

Traditional chemical impediment zones (often incorrectly called barriers) routinely entail the discharge of more than a thousand litres of toxic pesticide around a family home. The efficacy of most installations is largely dependent on site conditions and perimeter continuity is routinely very difficult to achieve. 

Any breeches (incomplete zones) inherently enable termite access to the home. Every termite colony has a single queen that can produce many millions of offspring in her lifetime. Each year subterranean colonies increase substantially in numbers and release alates to start more colonies. Over a period of time the population density probing a building perimeter may become extreme.

All infestations of buildings come from termites that were first foraging outside

Don't make the mistake of thinking that termites in your garden are no threat to your property.  All infestations of buildings come from termites that were originally foraging in the surrounding soil.  Termite food is cellulose, found in timber, cardboard and paper products.

When food is located they emit scent pheromones that are detected and enhanced by others, thereby attracting large numbers to the source. Termites are forages and workers will forage at random until a food source is found.   Without the right protection, those garden termites will eventually forage their way to your house.

Termites cannot detect timber from a distance

Because termites do not detect timber from a distance the presence of in-ground high energy food sources around the property will not attract termites. They find food by constantly foraging shallow soils and surface. The systems will only engage termites that are already probing your yard.

Foraging termites encounter these stations and lay a pheromone trail to lead others to the location. Large numbers develop a cycle as they transport the food back to the underground nest. This feeding cycle is then leveraged to destroy the nest.

Facts about Termites