Before discussing the termite prone areas Victoria has, here is a brief general information. Termites Victoria is having troubles with are wood destroying pests that survive on cellulose and moisture from wood and can infest anything that contains even the slightest amount of cellulose. This is not good news for us as a termite’s feeding spectrum can range from wooden interiors, and furniture to paper products. So, it is definitely worth discovering our traps for termites.
Termite zones are rich in delicious “food” like:
- Timber decking
- Floor boards
- Wooden fences, frameworks, porch in direct contact with soil
- Skirting boards and architraves
- Cupboards (especially those in bathroom and kitchen)
- Fixed timber furniture
- Carpet strips and the carpet itself
- Cardboard boxes
- Old books, magazines, newspapers and photo albums
- Electrical cabling and electric board
If we are talking about the termite prone areas, also need to mention that there are several types of termites and each type has a specific preference for different types of wood. For example, drywood and dampwood termites nest in dry and damp woods respectively. These termites are not as destructive as their cousin, the subterranean termites. The subterranean termites build nests underground, but they can also migrate from their original nest to your home and build a full scale colony inside your house without you even noticing.
Subterranean termites build mud tubes, which look like tunnels made of sawdust to help them migrate from their colonies underground to food sources inside your home. These mud tubes are often the first hallmark of a possible termite infestation in your house; others being discarded wings and termite frass (also known as termite droppings).
The mud tubes also protect termites from being exposed to the environment. Hydration and moisture are key to a termite’s survival and their nests have an average temperature ranging from 25 to 35°C with high humidity. Mud tubes protect termites from the environment outside, which is unfavourable for a termite’s survival and can cause dehydration and death.
Australia is the home of around 350 species of termites, 40 of which have severe destructive potential. The most common type of termites in Australia that ravages homes in both urban and suburban areas are the subterranean termites. Subterranean termites prefer a warm, subtropical climate, which makes Queensland one of the biggest termite prone areas - bigger than other less tropical states like New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.
However, weather and climate variations in Victoria, which can be hot and semi-arid at times, unfortunately “create” here multiple termite prone areas - Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, etc. Some councils in Victoria have already been “termite declared” - which means that these areas have been identified to have termite colonies.
The termite declared prone areas in Victoria are:
- Alpine Shire
- Ararat Rural City
- Ballarat City
- Banyule City
- Bass Coast Shire
- Baw Baw Shire
- Bayside City
- Benalla Rural City
- Boroondara City
- Brimbank City
- Buloke Shire
- Campaspe Shire
- Cardinia Shire
- Casey City
- Central Goldfields Shire
- Colac Otway Shire
- Corangamite Shire
- Darebin City
- East Gippsland Shire
- Frankston City
- Gannawarra Shire
- Glen Eira City
- Glenelg Shire
- Golden Plains Shire
- Greater Bendigo City
- Greater Dandenong City
- Greater Geelong City
- Greater Shepparton City
- Hepburn Shire
- Hindmarsh Shire
- Hobsons Bay City
- Horsham Rural City
- Hume City
- Indigo Shire
- Kingston City
- Knox City
- Latrobe City
- Loddon Shire
- Macedon Ranges Shire
- Manningham City
- Mansfield Shire
- Maribyrnong City
- Maroondah City
- Melbourne City
- Melton City
- Mildura Rural City
- Mitchell Shire
- Moira Shire
- Monash City
- Moonee Valley City
- Moorabool Shire
- Moreland City
- Mornington Peninsula Shire
- Mount Alexander Shire
- Moyne Shire
- Murrindindi Shire
- Nillumbik Shire
- Northern Grampians Shire
- Port Phillip City
- Pyrenees Shire
- Borough of Queenscliffe
- South Gippsland Shire
- Southern Grampians Shire
- Stonnington City
- Strathbogie Shire
- Surf Coast Shire
- Swan Hill Rural City
- Towong Shire
- Wangaratta Rural City
- Warrnambool City
- Wellington Shire
- West Wimmera Shire
- Whitehorse City
- Whittlesea City
- Wodonga City
- Wyndham City
- Yarra City
- Yarra Ranges Shire
- Yarriambiack Shire
Regardless of the termite zone, the damage caused by these crawlers is permanent, severe, and often identified at an advanced stage beyond restoration. In Australia alone, termites cause damages worth millions of dollars every year. Monitor and protect your home with our exclusive DIY Termite Ninja eradication system.
