Termites in my yard :(

[makka619]

:eek::eek::eek:TERMITES:eek::eek::eek:
Apologies if I should be putting this in a different thread.
I found some termites in an off-cut of a railway sleeper, lying beside a garden bed that is framed by railway sleepers.

I rolled the 70cm long piece of wood over and there was a nest of little white creatures eating away at it. I presume they are termites, maybe boars?

So I sprayed them DEAD with a good half-a-can of mortein.

Anyway, so I look closer at a giant white gum tree (amongst the trees that are going to be lopped) and I notice a LOT of little wholes randomly scattered around the trunk. This tree has been looking sick for some time. So now in my non-expert, unknowledgeable opinion, I believe that the gum tree is infested by termites, possibly boars.

Good thing, the tree is being lopped and taken away, but what if these nasty little creatures have spread more then I realise. Could they be in other trees? I haven't lifted up the garden sleeper frames yet (very heavy).

*my house is double brick, so safe in that regard. How vulnerable is indoor wooden furniture?

*Is it a must that I order a termite-inator even if they are only in the back yard?

*Do you think I should be getting rid of all the railway sleepers? They have been there for years?

I finally get rid of moth infestion (brought in by a bag of milky ways), then german roach one and now I have termites to deal with. Talk about luck.

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[RobP]

Hi makka
Your walls might be safe but what about your roof trusses (unless they are steel) and floor (unless it's a concrete slab).
I would definitely be having an inspection by a reputable pest extermination company.
Re holes in your trees, we had twenty, fifteen year old cypress trees bordering our front yard - lost the lot to borers.
Sympathy
Rob

[Bleedin Thumb]

I'd start to panic NOW!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

No serously chill, leave the log there. Give them something to eat, take their food away and they become angry very very angry!

[makka619]

Thanks Rob. They are horrible, now I get the jeebers everytime I go near the sleepers, or the rotting gum tree.

I added a pics of the white gum, it is so rotton compared to the ones behind it.

ETA: I am not sure about the roofing in the main house, I think it is fine. But the granny flat has wooden frames inside that hold up the ceiling panels.

[makka619]

I'd start to panic NOW!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

No serously chill, leave the log there. Give them something to eat, take their food away and they become angry very very angry!

Yeah but I leave the food there, they will finish that, then move indoors, and get me while I am sleeping.

[Doughboy]

Makka

One of my neighbours had termites in his backyard and he decided to get check pest control out to have a look.

$2,500

They checked up and down the street to a distance of 50 metres from the nest. They also put down a number of traps and baits and checked them every fortnight for three months now it is every six months. There goes your $2,500.

Sorry but better to stop them before they get into your neighbours house and then they cost you a hell of a lot more!!!!

Pete

[makka619]

Makka

One of my neighbours had termites in his backyard and he decided to get check pest control out to have a look.

$2,500

They checked up and down the street to a distance of 50 metres from the nest. They also put down a number of traps and baits and checked them every fortnight for three months now it is every six months. There goes your $2,500.

Sorry but better to stop them before they get into your neighbours house and then they cost you a hell of a lot more!!!!

Pete

What if they came from my neighbours???!!!

No seriously you are right, I should control it now before it's too late.

I was just speaking to my friend - she said the termites got into her old house, and it cost her about $400 to get rid of them. Calling the termite people tomorrow and find out what they charge/do.

[Bleedin Thumb]

I had an infestation of boars in my trees once .... bloody nasty

[Bleedin Thumb]

Thanks Rob. I added a pics of the white gum, it is so rotton compared to the ones behind it.

.

Yep that white gum really looks crook compared to the one behind. Lucky youre getting rid of it!

BTW Macca I've heard the best way to deter termites is to hang glass bottles filled with water off your trees. You have to hang about 5 -6 bottles of every tree, apparently the termites dont like it and they bugger of to your neighbours.

[RobP]

BTW Macca I've heard the best way to deter termites is to hang glass bottles filled with water off your trees.

I think that only works for dogwood trees.

I had an infestation of boars in my trees once .... bloody nasty

Proof positive that pigs can fly.

Cheers
Rob

[Doughboy]

I had an infestation of boars in my trees once .... bloody nasty


Goodness me Thumb... were they bigguns? Razorbacks perhaps?

Me thinks you meant to say borers.. but what the hey it is the woodwork we are here for not the spelling tuition!

Pete

[Bleedin Thumb]

I finally get rid of moth infestion (brought in by a bag of milky ways), then german roach one and now I have termites to deal with. Talk about luck.

Yes talk about luck indeed makka.
BTW what did the german roach arrive in?

[Doughboy]

Yes talk about luck indeed makka.
BTW what did the german roach arrive in?


Did you have an infestation of Germans? You poor bugger...............

Pete

[bsrlee]

The termites are probably living in the old sleepers - this should make them an easy target for the exterminators as they can be found & poisoned easily.

The tree sounds like its got some kind of borers in the sapwood/bark, which are slowly strangling the tree by ringbarking it on the inside. After they have weakened it, it will get fungal infestation (rot) and probably termites. When it is felled you could do your mates who do wood turning a favour with some green turning blanks instead of having it chipped.

Active termites do not leave visible holes on the outside of timber or live trees - they carefully cover up any holes with mud/sawdust mix, and can eat timber until there is a paper thick layer without coming into sight. One thing to look for is the trails they make up brick walls and over 'termite caps' which are made of the mud mix, about pencil thick - its the first thing 'pest inspectors' look for.

[woodsprite]

Hey makka - good move getting the termite guy in. Mind you I doubt you will ever get rid of the bugga's. If they are in the area they are in the area. Short of putting barriers of some sort arounf your perimeter you may always have some wandering over to your place for a feed, even if the guy can kill the current nest. We have had our couple of acres checked and sprayed a couple of times, and the termites keep coming back. As the bloke siad - we can kill every nest on our block, but the neighbours block will also have termites (they are rife in this area) who will eventually come back to our place.

There are some good web sites about how to make (read copy) termite traps and about where to place them. Trouble is getting your hands on the powder to put in a trap if the trap attracts termites.

When I moved into this place 30 years ago, found termites in the architraves in the bathroom. Panic! Spray with mortein, killed em all - or so I thought - but they just moved into the laundry and kept on chewing.

Good luck with getting rid og them - they should not be ignored.
Jeff