Recently a customer from Newcastle contacted us to investigate some insects crawling around the window of a property. To our surprise, Subterranean Termites known as ‘Coptotermes acinaciformis’ were found walking exposed to the elements around a window inside the home.

This is not normal behaviour for these destructive pests, their nests are usually located underground or in trees and stumps. Subterranean Termites build shelter tubes that are connected to the nest so they can maintain their preferred temperature and humidity, without this they would desiccate. They maintain their nests with a relative humidity of 100%, so when outside their nest the humidity is close to 100% termite workers and soldiers can leave their sheltered workers in search of food.

How do get rid of termites?

We were able to identify the problem, complete a Timber Pest Inspection for the customer and build a Property Management Plan to eliminate the offending subterranean termite colony from the building and to protect the property from future attack from these termites. Scenarios such as this serve as a timely reminder for homeowner’s to ensure they have at the least, an annual Timber Pest Inspection before it’s too late. This in turn can lead to costly repair bills, disruptions, stress and anxiety and many more complications. Usually by the time a homeowner see’s signs of a termite infestation, the damage is done. Early detection is key.

What is a timber pest inspection?

A thorough timber pest inspection and report is the first step towards finding the right solution for your property and budget.
It is very important that you understand we are not just completing a ‘termite check’ at your property. Many people think that termites are the only wood destroying pest that attack homes. There are three pest capable of damaging timber; Termites, Borers and Wood Decay Fungi. A timber pest inspection is designed to look for signs of all three of these pests.

A timber pest inspection will cover all readily accessible areas of your property – internal, external (grounds, trees, fences etc), roof void, sub-floor and outbuildings (sheds, garages etc). Timber pest inspections take approximately two hours to complete on an average sized three bedroom home. Your Timber Pest Inspector will provide you with a detailed written report on:

• Any visual evidence of timber pest activity and the extent of the activity and/or damage located.
• A summary of any timber pest/s identified and a brief description of the potential damage they could to cause to your property.
• How susceptible your property is to Termite attack, by looking at elements in the environment of your property which will make it more conducive to infestation and make recommendations for improving the environment around the property, making it less susceptible for Subterranean Termites and other timber pests.
• Recommendations for a management plan to attack any current infestation and aid in reducing any risk of future infestations.
• Report on any preexisting property management plan and make recommendations to ensure its effectiveness, whilst educating you on its maintenance requirements or formulate a new Property Management Plan to ensure your home is protected from future attack from timber Pests.

What is a termite check?

A termite check typically does not cover these aspects and often includes a brief look around your home with little attention to underlying factors. Always ask your pest control technician what an inspection will include.

At Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle, we have highly trained, customer focused Timber Pest Technicians and have a great range of products and services and support that will take the pain out of termite management.

Still concerned?

Don’t take the chance of termite infestation damage and costly repairs, book in a timber inspection today. Call Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle today.

(02) 4488 4019

We are currently experiencing a higher than normal amount of rodent activity in and around Newcastle and surrounding areas as a result of weather conditions that are favourable to rodents.

We recently conducted rodent treatments in suburbs such as Mayfield, Waratah, Hamilton and Adamstown particularly where houses back onto, or are near bush reserves.

This appears to be a seasonal event, being the combination of the cooler months and rain, driving them in to find shelter and food.  Our customers are reporting hearing noises in roofs, sighting rat droppings around BBQ areas in garages and around rubbish bins.

Rodent Characteristics

Rodents are well known for their activity in the winter months, but they can also be found in the warmer months of the year. When their normal food sources are depleted, they will search for new food sources and shelter, often at the expense of the homeowner. Rodents can also establish themselves at any home, despite how clean the home may be – they need food, water and shelter just like us.

Do I have a rodent problem?

At least 10 percent of the calls we receive from concerned customers are due to their home lighting no longer working and an electrician stating they have found chewed wires.

Rodents are well known for causing this type of damage to home wiring, which can result in a house fire, sparked by damaged wires in roof voids and within wall cavities.

Other signs that you may have a rodent problem include:

• Scratching sounds in walls and roof voids during the early hours of the night and morning.
• Gnawing on doors, skirting boards, books and food packaging.
• Rub marks – greasy marks on walls and skirting boards.
• Droppings and urine – strong repulsive odour around outside areas such as barbeque’s,  sheds and indoor storage areas such as cupboards, drawers and under sinks.
• Excitement of your family pet – If your dog or cat is acting strangely, for example excessive barking in a particular area of your home, they might be trying to tell you something.
• Sensors / Alarms – being triggered, particularly within 1 or 2 specific areas of the premises, can be an indicator of rodent activity within an area.

Health Issues and problems

Rats are well known for spreading diseases, here are some of the most well known:

• Asthma is one of the most common diseases in the home caused by Rodent droppings.
• Salmonellosis – caused by infection with bacteria called Salmonella.
• Typhoid – a fever disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella.
• Hygiene – food contamination risk, stock and product loss.

How to treat rodent problems

When all else fails and pest control measures need to be implemented, Amalgamated Pest Control technicians will look at all the available options. The two most effective methods of control of rats and mice are:

• Rodent Trapping: Using traps to physically trap and remove rodents.
• Chemical Control: Includes a wide range of baiting techniques, most commonly bait blocks used in Tamper Resistant Rodent Stations. These baits are secured inside the station and cannot be removed, making them pet and child friendly. Where needed, tracking powders, gels and other baits may be used as required.

How to avoid rodent infestations

• Ensure all of your household garbage is in tightly sealed in bins, which rodents cannot access – restrict their access to food as much as possible.
• Alter your building so that rodents cannot gain entry. Look for access holes that rodents can use such as where pipes enter buildings and gaps under external doors. Sealing these points and others similar will make it harder for rodents to enter. Using a gutter guard to seal the roof can be also be helpful in stopping them entering the roof via the gutters. Restrict their access to shelter as much as possible.
• Trim excess trees and shrubs from around the perimeter of the structure, especially trees that overhang the roof. This will take away both harbourage areas and make accessing the roof a little bit harder for them.

We advise our customers to make these changes to their home and consider the installation of a gutter guard solution.

Still concerned?

If you believe or suspect that you have rats or mice, please contact Amalgamated Pest Control Newcastle for further advice.

(02) 4488 4029

Termites: What are they, how they enter your home.

Termites are an ancient order of insects whose origins date back more than 100 million years to the Cretaceous period. Although they are commonly called ‘white ants’, the resemblance to ants is superficial and they are more closely related to cockroaches and in fact have been recently included into the cockroach order Blattodea.

Termite Characteristics

Termites can be grouped into three basic categories:

• Dampwood, these termites generally live in damp rotting logs or rot pockets in dead or living trees.

• Drywood, these termites obtain water from the wood in which they live and have no contact with the soil, or with any other source of moisture.

• Subterranean, these termites are generally ground-dwelling or require contact with the soil or some constant source of moisture and are the main threat posed to timber in the built environment, (timber-in-service).

What type of damage can they cause to your home

No matter where you are located in Australia, Subterranean Termites are present in your area. Subterranean termites are responsible for more economic loss each year than all natural disasters combined. There are more than 350 species of termites which have been recorded in this country, about 25 of which achieve economic importance as pests of timber in service.

Where do they live?

Subterranean termites live in colonies, numbering from a few hundred to millions. In each colony there is a division of labour, with several distinct castes, each specailising in particular duty. The worker termites are responsible for the damage to timber caused in their search for food, which consist mainly of cellulose, sugars and starch present in the timber. Subterranean termites generally nest underground in the soil,  build earthen mounds, or nest in the root crowns of trunks or living and dead trees. Having to maintain contact with soil or a reliable water source to obtain sufficient moisture to survive, subterranean termites construct protective mud shelter tubes from their nest to their food source- living trees, seasoned timbers, books, furniture, etc. Consuming the wood from inside out, usually by the time the termites work is visible, the timber is virtually eaten away.

How subterranean termites can enter your home.

• Constructing mud tubes over concrete piers
• Constructing tunnels up the centre of wood stumps
• Constructing mud tubes from the soil to the flooring, often within cavity walls
• Through hair line cracks which appear in concrete slabs around plumbing and electrical conduits
• Through service pipes such as telephone, plumbing and electrical
• Bridging by way of vegetation in contact with the building, through the soil abutting the base of the building, working their way through mortar or timber in soil contact
• Through colonsing flights, reproductive termites may form nests within or in close proximity to the building

Still concerned?

If you wish  further information or advice regarding termites or having a timber pest inspection, please contact your local Amalgamated Pest Control branch.