TERMITES
“It is estimated that multi millions were being spent each year in Malaysia on termite management and the total repair cost of damage is approximately two to threefold of the total control cost.”
Termites are social insects and practice caste system, which consists of queen, king, soldier, worker, alate (winged reproductive) and immature (nymphs and eggs). Each of the castes shares similar body form and specific tasks. Queen will be the main egg-laying ant while the soldiers defend the colony from enemies or intruders. Alates will go for swarming in order to mate and then start a new colony. Workers are the busiest where they will need to maintain, construct and repair the nest, forage and feed other colony members.
Common Hiding Places
Termites live in colonies and the nests are usually located underground, in wood or in trees. They feed mostly on cellulose based material or wood byproducts. Termites can be grouped under 3 categories based on the location of their colony: subterranean termite, drywood termite and damp wood termite.
For subterranean termites, they build their nest under the soil and are highly dependent on moisture. Drywood termites are able to survive under low moisture condition and faecal pellets could be seen near the infestation area. Damp wood termites prefer to feed on decayed wood structure such as tree bark, rotten root and buried timbers.
Common Termite Species
There are about 2,500 identified spe cies worldwide with thousands of species found in Malaysia. The most common and economically important termites belong to the subterranean species especially the Coptotermes sp. and Schedorhinotermes sp. with the former being the most destructive species causing about 90% termite related damages to the buildings in Malaysia.
Other species such as Macrotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Globitermes sp. and Nasutitermes sp. are also often encountered in our living environment and usually regarded as garden termites due to their activities are mostly at the compound or outdoor area.
Consequence
Termites usually gain entrance into building through cracks and crevices, following the electrical or pipeline system. It is estimated that multi millions were being spent each year in Malaysia on termite management and the total repair cost of damage is approximately two to threefold of the total control cost.
Control Tips
The species of termite, nature of business, location and condition of the termite infestation area will come into consideration when deciding the best solution. Here are some of the common control methods:
In-ground (IG) Bait
Preventive measure is possible by using the in-ground station, which is installed outdoor along the perimeter of the premise that also serves as a monitoring purpose. Once termite is found inside the station, the monitoring wood stick will be replaced by the bait.
Above Ground (AG) Bait
Bait in general, is a mixture of food (cellulose) and insecticide. For the above ground bait station, it will be installed at an active termite infestation area where the bait will be consumed by the workers and they will subsequently bring the poison food back to the colony (nest) to share with the other members.
Soil Treatment: Pre-construction
Residual chemical is applied at the soil layer before the building or structure is built on it.
VIEW PROCEDURE
Pre-construction Treatment
In order to properly treat for termites during pre-construction, our experts will spray a layer of chemical onto the soil before the building or structure is built.
Step 1
Residual chemical is applied onto the soil layer.
Step 2
Chemical is absorb into the ground and acts as a protection layer.
Soil Treatment: Post-construction
Small holes will be drilled along the perimeter of the premise and the chemical solution will be pumped into the holes in order to form a chemical protection layer against termites.
VIEW PROCEDURE
Post-construction Treatment
When the base of the structure is built, small holes will be drilled along the perimeter of the premise and residual chemical will be pumped into the holes.
Step 1
Small holes are drilled along the perimeter.
Step 2
Residual chemical is pumped into the holes.
Step 3
The chemical spreads and forms a protective barrier against termites.
Termguard Perimeter & Penetration Reticulation System
Specifically designed to continuously deliver termiticide throughout the building, Termguard Reticulation Systems were developed to provide uninterrupted maximum protection against subterranean termites for the life of the building.