Terrible Termites: Why White Ants are Bad for Your Home
Unwanted guests like pests and insects can be a real hassle, but none have the reputation for causing damage to homes like the dreaded white ant.
Queensland’s subtropical climate is the perfect weather for white ants that require high-levels of humidity for their nests. This is why all Queensland homeowners need to be aware of the risks involved with infestation.
White ants cause more damage to Queensland homes in a year than fire, storm and floods combined and can destroy the integrity of timber walls and roofing in less than 3 months.
If your home is overrun with white ants, you’ll be faced with some serious and expensive problems. Knowing exactly what’s at stake is the first step in motivating you to prepare against the potential costs to your home.
3 Harmful Costs of White Ants to Your Home
Damages to the Structure of Your Home
White ants predominantly feed on the cellulous material found in wood and plant life, and for homeowners this can be a serious problem.
White ants will feed on the cellulous within the timber of your home, building nests and tunnels as they branch out to gather more food for the colony. This seriously compromises the stability and the safety of your home, as the timber becomes frail and eventually incapable of supporting your structure.
Damage to the Contents of your Home
White ant destruction isn’t restricted to the timber in your roof or walls, as they strive to eat and gather all the cellulose material they can get their dirty little mitts on. This includes the cellulose from your cabinets, furniture, railings and more.
White ants have also been known to destroy other non-digestible materials in their search for cellulose, causing damage to things like:
- Rubber
- Plastic
- Metal
- Leather
- Bitumen
- Plants
- Trees
- Bags of salt and flour
- Glass
Rampant Infestation
White ant queens are known to live for over 25 years and can lay more than 2,000 eggs per day. The more white ants go undiscovered the more the colony will grow in number and the more the risks become magnified.
As the majority of damage occurs well before white ant infestation has been identified, it’s always a good idea to consult a pest control professional to assess the damages and degree of infestation before taking the next step.
