Cairns is home to many different species of ants & termites. Ants and termites can be easily mistaken for each other especially when their tracks & leads may look the same at first glance. Both will enter your home through small cavities in your walls and floors, however on closer inspection there are some obvious differences if you know what to look for. Termite tracks or mud leads are quite firm to the touch, and may require a little force to break open for an inspection. Ants tracks and leads are very fragile and will fall apart at the slightest touch, this is only an indication as to what the tracks may belong too. Collecting a sample of the insect is the only way to have them correctly identified. 

One of the most obvious differences between ants and termites is their eyes, termites do not have eyes they are blind. When a termite colony has reached a certain size and maturity, the termite queen will start to produce winged female & male termites called Alates in readiness to leave the nest in search for new area's & nesting sites. Once winged termites emerge from the nest and take flight, termites can be seen swarming in their thousands. In Cairns from the beginning of summer through to about March is termite swarming season. These winged termites will normally take flight when the weather conditions are warm and very humid, usually after a good rain-fall.

When this event takes place, it's not a time to be overly concerned about flying termites outside your property. The termites are not going to land on your porch and start eating your house away. Though it is a good idea to check for area's around your house that may be conducive for termite activity, such as leaking taps, timber in contact with soil, any old wood plies or materials stored against your house and pull back any built up garden beds in contact with your walls that may be concealing termite entry points along the slab edges. Cairns is deemed high risk for termite activity, so at the very least having annual termite inspections carried out on your property is essential.

When a termite swarming event occurs, these flying termites are looking for a mate & a suitable place to build a nest. Environmental conditions have to be nearly perfect for this to take place. 99% of the termites will die & those that do survive will have found an area with a constant supply of water with a food source & ultimately a place to build a nest.

 There is only a very short window of opportunity for their survival after the termite swarming event. Old tree stumps, logs and decaying vegetation is the ideal environment for this to take place. When termites start to swarm this will normally occur at dusk, so it's a great time to grab your torch & try and find where the flying termites coming from. If possible collect a sample, so you can have them correctly identified by calling us at All Pest Control Cairns. However if you do notice winged termites emerging from your house, through holes or cracks in your walls. This is definitely a cause for concern, and means that you already have a major well established termite colony in your home. It is very important you do not disturb the termites at this time or try and treat them yourself.  

it is essential to contact a qualified termite technician to perform a timber pest inspection. They will advise on the extent of the infestation and what steps need to be taken, providing you with the best termite management options moving forward. If you have any concerns about potential termite activity in & around your house or property, we are the professionals in all aspects of termite management All Pest Control Cairns, we are only a phone call away. Call Joe on 0401 365 239.