Termite Control Specialists in the West Rand
Various termite species occur in South Africa, of which three types are considered pests because of the damage they cause. These three species are generally found in almost all parts of the country, although two of them have a preference for particular regions.
Main Three Problem Species
The listed termites can literally wreak havoc when a colony invades a property; all three cause costly damage wherever they colonise. It is essential to control and eliminate the colony as soon as it is detected. They are:
- Coptotermes spp. – subterranean
- Cryptotermes spp. – dry wood
- Neotermes spp. – harvester or damp wood
Subterranean Termites
In Gauteng, on the West Rand and in the Western Cape, subterranean termites are the most prevalent genus. Although they nest and live underground, as their name suggests, these creatures must emerge in search of food, which will be carried back to the colony in the nest. Inside the nest, soft-bodied subterranean termites are able to control humidity, which they require in order to survive. When they set off to forage, they build protective mud tunnels within which they move to and from the underground nest. Tunnels serve a dual purpose – providing safety from predators and preserving the required humidity.
Colonies may settle and remain hidden in the foundations of buildings, from where they voraciously attack wooden structures, feeding on and destroying wood and timber – roof trusses, wood floors, doors, window frames, skirting boards and cupboards.
Harvesters
They are called harvesters, and harvest they do, in the West Rand and right across South Africa. Their foraging activities may mimic that of leaf-cutting ants. They eat and destroy damp or seasoned wood, grass, crops and even carpets in the home, which contain cellulose. Harvester termites’ bodies are harder and more resilient than those of the other two pest species, so that high temperatures and dry conditions above ground and outdoors do not adversely affect them. They can be seen carting plant cuttings into nest entrances; frequently, it is your prize West Rand lawn that is disappearing into that little hole.
Dry Wood Termites
You will find these pests virtually sealed inside wooden structures in your building, if you find them at all. By then it is often too late to salvage the structure, which has been eaten and hollowed out from within, leaving only a thin casing of outer wood covering the busy colony. This species favours KZN, but not to exclusion. They occur on the West Rand too, as well as in the rest of the country.
Commonalities
- Colonies consist of thousands of termites
- The lifecycle of all consists of three stages – egg, nymph and adult
- Each colony begins with the actions of reproductive alates, which are winged future kings and queens. When conditions are right, alates take flight, mate, drop their wings and start a new colony.
- A colony has a queen, king, workers and soldiers, in addition to alates. Workers make up the largest sector of the colony, and they are the cause of damage and destruction
Detect, Identify, Control and Eradicate
Do not wait until it is too late and termites have taken over your property. Bugman Pest Control’s West Rand teams are trained to detect their presence, identify the species and take appropriate control measures to eradicate these pests from you premises. |
