If you think you have white ants in the home, you might have some questions. These questions can range from what they are to how to get rid of them, and everything in between. In this article, we explore some of the most common questions when it comes to white ants.
Are Termites and White Ants the Same Thing?
One of the most common assumptions is that white ants are a species of ants. There are over 3000 species of ants in Australia alone, white ants are not one of them. White ants are the same as termites.
This is very bad for the home and therefore, you should consider taking the sighting of a white ant in the home very seriously.
What Damage Could White Ants Do to the Home?
White ants can do significant damage to a home. In Australia they infest approximately 200,000 homes a year, causing about AD$7000 worth of damage to each property. Unfortunately, insurance companies will not cover this either.
In addition, they can spread disease and be a real stress. Therefore, they’re not good for our health either.
Can White Ants Eat Through Concrete?
Termites are not able to eat through concrete. It is not the right substance for them. They prefer to eat wooden objects and into wooden structures where they make their home. However, the problem is that no matter how well the concrete is poured, there are going to be cracks that appear and this is where the termites gain access.
So, if you see cracks, quickly cover them and seal them.
Do White Ants Eat Hardwood?
While it is not the easiest material for white ants to consume, they will eat it regardless. Therefore, hardwood objects in your home are not immune to an infestation of white ants. Therefore, you must take action to protect your property when you see white ants nearby or in the home.
Do White Ants Fly?
White ants, like other ants, can fly. They are usually the new queens and males who are looking for a new nesting site after leaving their homes. Unlike common ant species that are found across the world, white ants do not like to be airborne for very long. They prefer to be in wood as quick as possible.
Therefore, the chances of a white ant flying being spotted are very low and you’re more likely to see a regular ant. But that doesn’t mean that they don’t fly.
Can White Vinegar Kill Ants?
White vinegar is an effective method for killing ants and termites. What you need to do is to mix the white vinegar into a 1:1 solution of water and then spray on the surfaces. This will kill any ants in the area or that come into contact with the substance. It is also a natural killer of diseases that can be spread.
However, the nest will survive as the nest will not bring back the vinegar to the queen. And the nest will only be destroyed when the queen has been killed. Therefore, vinegar can reduce the activity of the nest, but not get rid of it.
It could make the situation worse because what will happen is that you will see less evidence (if any) and assume the nest is gone, only for it to continue to cause damage behind the scenes.
How Do You Know If You Have White Ants?
White ants are very hard to spot in the home. They’re secretive and tend to only come out when they’re too large to maintain their presence in the shadows. However, there are ways that you can determine whether or not you have white ants in your home.
- The smell of mould, mildew, or rotting timber.
- There is a clicking sound from inside the walls.
- You spot discarded wings around the home.
- There is the presence of sawdust near the edges of the home, this is termite faeces.
- Windows are hard to open.
- There are tunnels in the wooden structures of your home.
- There are flying termites or you see termites walking around the home.
How do you Stop White Ants from Entering the Home?
There are several ways that you can prevent white ants from entering the home. The biggest deterrent is not giving them an entrance into the home. Wood near the home should be leaning against the home.
Nor should you bring untreated wood into the home. For instance, taking wood from a local wood or forest should be treated before entering the home. And don’t allow there to be any wooden structures that are connected to the ground, and also connected to the home. If you need to use a wooden structure, put this into concrete to reduce the risk.
When there are flying ants around, keep windows shut. And do regular checks with a pest controller.
How do you Get Rid of White Ants?
Numerous white ant baits can be used for the control of white ants in the home. These baits work with white ant traps. What they do is offer a food source to the white ants that carry poison for the queen. The queen then ingests the poison and dies.
Without the queen, the nest cannot survive. But there is the chance that a new queen can be selected. So treatments need to be continued for a long period to ensure that they are effective.
There is no point in killing white ants one by one. Queens are central to pest control because no more termites can be born without her. But there are always replacements for each soldier or worker white ant that you kill.
Therefore, you can use a complete-clan bait kit, like the ‘DIY Ninja Termite’ kits sold here at Envirobug, to target the clan where it hurts. This is the most effective way to get the white ants away from your home.
Conclusion
White ants are a specific problem that many homes in Australia will experience. About 200,000 homes a year are infested with termites and the only solution is the death of the queen. It takes some time, but the damage caused by one nest can be substantial.
