White Ants vs Termites: Is there a Difference?
If you’re researching White Ants vs Termites, you might be surprised to learn that white ants are in fact just another name for termites – but termites are not ants at all!
We explain in greater detail below.
White Ants vs Termites
Subterranean Termites, are often referred to as ‘White Ants’, basically because of their size and colour, but this classification can be a little confusing because termites are not actually ants.
In saying that, if you haven’t been through the proper training or seen termites first hand, it may be very difficult for you to differentiate between ants and termites.
What is a Termite?
Subterranean termites are social insects that live in a colony. They feed on cellulose which is found in many timber building materials, and as a consequence cause significant damage to thousands of Australian properties each year.
They are pale in colour, which is sometimes described as light brown or “creamy”.
Termites are small and said to range from 0.6 – 1.2 cm.
How do Termites Differ from Ants?
Here are some notable differences between regular ants and termites:
- Body shapes: Ants have a narrower section at the waist, whereas termites do not have any real distinction between their abdomen and thorax.
- Colour: Ants vary in colour but tend to be quite dark or close to black.
- Antennae: Some ants have antennae which are described as “elbow-shaped” I.e., 90-degree angles. Termites, on the other hand, have straight antennae which appears to be beaded.
- Sight: Many termites in a colony will be blind, yet ants have compound eyes so have better awareness of their surroundings.
- Environment: Termites require moisture and will not survive where the conditions aren’t right. Ants also like the humidity but have adapted to moving about in outdoor environments (rather than in mud tubing like termites).
Termite Inspections and Treatments
It’s important to keep an eye out around your home for any signs of termite activity, like mud tubing, timber decay or damage, or discarded wings, and if you have an inkling there could be termites to call in a licensed inspector like All Corners Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control.
If a termite infestation is uncovered, an appropriate treatment plan will be put in place by our team.
If termites aren’t uncovered, we can help with preventative measures to reduce the chance of a termite attack in the future.
Find out more about termite treatments and protecting your home here, or for personalised advice or a quote call 0439 722 914.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.
Signs of Termites
If termites had settled down at your property, would you be able to spot the signs?
South East Queensland has a number of different species of destructive termites – with the most common being Subterranean Termites – and each year they cost many homeowners thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, many homeowners aren’t aware of a termite infestation until the damage has been done. But if you knew the signs to look out for you may be able to act quickly in the event of a termite attack on your property.
Signs of Termites
1.Mud tubing
Subterranean Termites thrive underground or moist out-of-the way spots, but if they need to travel around to access a food source, they do so in mud tubes.
These hard mud tubes protect them from predators and allow them to move about in the humid conditions which they need to survive.
This brown tubing is often quite narrow (0.5-2.5cm wide) and can be found on interior and exterior walls, floors, around the perimeter of your home, and on the sides of buildings.
2.Timber decay or damage
If the termites have been left to their own devices for long enough, it’s likely that they have compromised the structural integrity of your property.
They are known to feast on wood from the inside out, leaving behind a just sliver of the timber or paint. From the outside the timber may appear normal, but when it is knocked it could sound hollow, or may even break or collapse with very little force.
3.Door and window frames are warped
Following on from the above point, termites may have caused damage to timber frames on doors and windows frames.
This damage can in turn prevent you from closing the doors or windows properly.
Blistered wood and paint can also indicate termite activity.
4.Discarded termite wings
While subterranean termites do thrive underground, there are termites in mature colonies called swarmers that can fly. These termites travel around during the warmer, more humid summer months to reproduce, and shed their wings in order to attract a mate.
As these insects are attracted to light, their wings are often found discarded near window sills or doors.
Schedule an Inspection
If you do spot any of the above signs and suspect termites are active nearby, do not disturb the area.
Instead call a licensed termite inspector, like the professionals at All Corners Carpet Cleaning and Pest Control, and schedule an assessment.
For more information or to book an inspection please call 0439 722 914 or send us a message here.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.
How to Prepare for a Termite Inspection
Termite inspections play an important role in protecting your home from the destructive timber pests and limiting the damage they may cause, but you may be wondering how to prepare for a termite inspection.
Below we share a few simple tasks homeowners can carry out before our licensed inspector arrives to make their job a bit easier and allow them to jump straight into their inspection.
How to Prepare for a Termite Inspection
In South East Queensland the most common species of termite is the Subterranean Termite.
If this species of termite has built a nest at your property, it won’t always be easy to detect as these pests don’t inhabit spaces in the open. Instead, they hide away in a spot where the humidity is high – often underground or near a water source.
This means our inspectors will need to thoroughly examine areas in and around your property that are harder to reach or out of the way.
1.Move furniture and clutter away from walls
Termite nests are often found inside wall cavities, so we will want to access the perimeter of your indoor and outdoor spaces to check for damage to timber and any other signs of a termite infestation.
If you have clutter inside your home that may obstruct our investigation, or large pieces of furniture against the walls or near window frames, we ask that you please move it beforehand.
2. Trim overgrown trees or bushes
Your termite inspector will also need to assess the home’s foundation and the exterior walls.
Any overgrown hedges or trees will hinder their inspection, so we ask that they be trimmed back beforehand. If you are comfortable, you can do the pruning yourself, otherwise you may wish to call in a professional.
In addition, if there are any heavy household items stored against exterior walls, such as barbeques, bikes or garden equipment, please move those prior to our arrival.
3.Enable access to hard-to-reach areas
During our inspection, we will need to examine a range of out-of-the-way areas that aren’t often frequented by humans. Those spaces could include storage areas, crawl spaces or the attic. Please ensure there is no furniture blocking the entryway to these spaces.
4.Clean out cabinets under sinks
We ask that you take out any items which are in the cupboards underneath sinks in areas like the bathroom, laundry and kitchen.
5.Inform the home’s residents about the inspection
It’s a good idea to let everyone in the household know the day and time of our inspection.
That way they can help to prepare the property ahead of time.
How Long does a Termite Inspection Take?
If you’ve been able to carry out some of the above heavy lifting before our inspectors arrive, you can expect the termite inspection to take around one hour, however, it could be longer if issues are uncovered.
Book an Inspection
Time for your yearly termite inspection? Or have you noticed any signs of an infestation?
Please make a booking today by calling 0439 722 914.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.
Pest Control Morayfield
Have you seen some pesky pests making themselves at home at your Morayfield property? If you have, it’s time to call the pest control professionals at All Corners Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control!
We offer termite inspection, eradication, management and prevention services, as well as pest control treatments for ants, cockies, spiders, silverfish, rodents and fleas for homeowners and business owners across the Brisbane northside suburb.
Keep reading as we share details of a recent termite inspection we carried out in Morayfield and the preventative system we put in place to protect the property from future attacks.
Termite Inspection Morayfield
Our Termite Managers have seen just how destructive the insects can be and always prioritise an inspection for homeowners who fear they might be sharing their home with termites.
We recently visited one of our regular customers at their Morayfield home to conduct a thorough inspection of their low-set brick home built in the 80s.
Fortunately, there weren’t any termites, but we installed a termite reticulation system to ward off future attacks.
Termite Prevention Brisbane
Preventing termites is far better than finding them after they’ve caused significant and costly damage.
In this case, the Morayfield homeowner was adding a large rear patio and concrete paths around her home, so she didn’t want us to drill through the concrete to install termite barriers. Instead, we installed a reticulation system underneath the concrete.
What is a Termite Reticulation System?
A termite reticulation system is a chemical pipe with perforated holes every 200mm that we can charge pesticide through.
The system’s design allows the pesticide to reach where needed without drilling holes every 2-300mm.
We install the chemical pipe before the concrete is laid so it sits underneath the slab and against the home’s perimeter.
At All Corners Carpet Cleaning and Pest Control, we would highly recommend a termite reticulation system for anyone who is laying concrete slabs or paths against their home. That way, we can maintain a chemical barrier around the home without causing damage to new slabs by drilling through them.
Pest Control Morayfield
Do you think you might be sharing your Morayfield home with unwanted houseguests like termites, rats, fleas or silverfish? Evict them before they make themselves at home!
Find out more about our pest control services here or book an inspection by calling 0439 722 914.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.
Termite Treatment Caboolture
Think you might need a termite treatment at your Caboolture property?
To the untrained eye, termites can be hard to find. But unfortunately, if they’re not uncovered quickly, they can cause significant structural damage.
Read on as we share how one North Brisbane homeowner knew something was amiss when trimmings inside his home broke when he was cleaning.
Termite Inspection Caboolture
Recently, a Caboolture homeowner was left shocked when his skirting boards fell apart while he was vacuuming them. To his dismay, there was a termite infestation underneath them.
Following this, he contacted the termite managers at All Corners Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control.
We attended the home that day and meticulously inspected the man’s low-set brick home before deciding on a treatment plan.
Termite Treatment Caboolture
When a swarm of termites is found, we need to determine their species and how much damage they’ve caused before beginning any treatment.
The species found at this particular home north of Brisbane was Schedorhinotermes Spp.
We drilled holes into the plasterboard and placed a camera inside the wall to ascertain how much activity and damage is present.
These insects had been busy and significant damage was found to the bottom plate and skirting boards. To eradicate the destructive pests, we treated these areas with Termidor Foam.
After the termite activity ceased at this Caboolture property, we installed a Termite Chemical Barrier to the external perimeter of the home to help minimise the risk of future attacks.
Would you like to learn more about termite treatment options? We run through three courses of action in our blog here. Alternatively, you can get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to answer your calls.
Termite Protection Brisbane
Did you know that termite damage is not covered under your normal house insurance? That’s why prevention (and protection) is better than cure in these situations!
At All Corners Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control, we can help stop infestations withfrequenttermite inspections of your property (at the very least yearly) and a termite management program.
Learn more about the importance of regular inspections here.
Termite Treatment Caboolture
Not sure if your termite management plan is up to date? Please contact us today for a free, no-obligation quote.
Or, if you suspect termites have settled at your Caboolture property, get in touch today to organise an inspection and tailored treatment plan.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
If you think termites have invaded your property and you’re wondering how to get rid of them, the best place to start is to contact a licensed professional – like All Corners Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control – for help.
We offer termite management and eradication services for homeowners on Brisbane’s northside.
And while we have a range of methods to treat termites, we’ll conduct a thorough inspection of your property first and determine the species that have inhabited your home before beginning any management plans.
In this blog we share details of a number of our termite treatments options. If you suspect you might have the pests at your home, and you’re ready to schedule a time for an inspection, please contact us today on 0439 722 914.
How To Get Rid Of Termites
The treatment method will be determined based on the species of termites, your suburb and property – including how the building has been constructed.
Here are a few ways we rid Brisbane properties of the destructive timber pests.
- Termiticides – An insecticide which has been developed to target and eradicate termites. This direct form of treatment may be viable when there are large numbers of the pests present.
- Baiting systems – Bait stations set up around your property to attract termites. The systems can be placed below ground or above ground.
- Termite Chemical Barrier- A liquid chemical can be applied to the soil around the perimeter of a structure or building.
While our treatments options are effective, we find prevention to be the best protection against termites.
We believe regular inspections by licensed inspectors are vital for all homeowners, and we can offer advice as to the best measures to minimise the risk of future attacks.
Read more about our termite control services here.
Termite Inspection Brisbane North
Would you like to have a termite inspection carried out at your northside property?
We are familiar with all Brisbane North suburbs (including North Lakes, Caboolture, Bracken Ridge, Bray Park, Deception Bay, Rothwell, and more). We can recommend the best protection, management and treatment for your property.
And even if termites aren’t detected at your property during an inspection, our experienced team will highlight any high-risk conditions which could attract the pests. Ready to book an inspection? Call 0439 722 914 or send us a message here.
All Corners are the leading Carpet Cleaning & Pest Control professionals for the Brisbane Northside.
With over a decade of experience in these industries, no job is too big or small. We understand your need for quality!
We can help you with Pest and Termite inspections and treatment as well as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
For a free no-obligation quote, call us today on 0439 722 914 or send us an online message here.