Termite Myths: 10 Common Misconceptions About White Ants

Most people don’t have a very good understanding of termites. This is normal – white ant behaviour falls into a niche area of study. So, it’s no surprise that these myths have inspired a lot of misunderstandings about termites.

Let’s debunk these misconceptions and shed light on the realities of termite infestations and control. Whether you’re concerned about the type of timber they target, their relationship with ants, or their impact on your property, we’ll set the record straight on these 10 myths about termites.

First Things First: A Disclaimer

This article discusses myths about subterranean termites. This excludes drywood termites (family Kalotermitidae) and dampwood termites (Family Archotermopsidae).

Our service area covers Albury, Wodonga, Rutherglen, Corowa, and nearby regions. Only subterranean termites are of economic importance in our local area. But your region may be different. So you should consult a local pest controller in your area if you do not live in our region.

However, for ease in this article, we will refer to all subterranean termites as ‘termites‘.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s crack on.

1. Myth: They Won’t Eat Certain Types of Timber

Reality: Most termites (like Coptotermes) are not fussy eaters when it comes to timber. While different termite species prefer different types of wood, most won’t hesitate to feast on any form of wood if it’s available. Some species actually prefer hardwoods.

Different types of wood are termed “termite-resistant“, which is valid to an extent. But I always put it like this: I avoid Brussels sprouts if I can get away with it because I don’t like them. But if all I have to eat are Brussels sprouts, you can bet I’ll be eating them sooner or later. Termites are no different in their food.

Termite-resistant timbers I’ve seen them eat include Murray Pine (cypress), redgum, cedar, and even treated pine (see below).

There is also a myth that termites won’t eat craftwood (MDF). Termites will eat it just like any other timber. Especially in treated pine frame or steel-frame houses where other timber sources are limited.

2. Myth: They Are a Type of Ant

Reality: Although people often refer to them as “white ants,” termites are not ants at all. They belong to a different order of insects, and their behaviours, anatomy, and habits differ greatly from those of ants.

We’ve already covered the difference between ants and termites in another article. Click here.

3. Myth: Black Ants Keep Termites Away

Reality: The presence of black ants in your area does not mean a termite-free zone. In fact, black ants and termites can coexist without one affecting the other. Ants and termites do different jobs in nature, and whether one is around or not doesn’t really affect the other.

I, personally, have found termites within millimetres of ants when turning over logs in garden beds. The termites are always happily going about their business while the ants forage or nest nearby. This myth about termites and ants is completely false.

Many people believe that if you have lots of ants on your property they will keep the termites away. But although ants have evolved offensive capabilities to protect themselves, termites have evolved defensive capabilities specifically to hide from ants (their main predator).

Termites travel in mud tunnels underground that are very dense and hard for ants to break through. They also excavate the timber they eat from the inside, using their food source as a shield from ants.

Additionally, recent research from Australian termite researcher Dr Theo Evans shows that termites are keenly aware of the presence of ants. Ants are able to “listen for ants” and adjust their behaviour to go undetected. Termites are “100 times louder than termites” and termites have evolved to tune into their sounds and avoid them. Very interesting stuff.

4. Myth: Termites in My Garden Won’t Attack My House

Lots of clients have told me that they are happy to see termites eating their timber garden edging because it means “they won’t attack the house if they’ve got food out there”.

Reality: Termites in your garden can certainly pose a threat to your home. A termite colony can have over a million individual mouths to feed. So, termites constantly search for new food sources. If they don’t, the colony can quickly starve if they lose access to a supply of food. They don’t just find one bit of wood and stop looking.

If you’ve got some garden edging, stakes, logs, tree stumps, etc. in your yard, it will only make termites forage more on your property – not less. Think of all those bits of wood and timber as ‘stepping stones‘ to your house. Removing them is one of the ways you can help prevent termite attacks on your property.

5. Myth: Home Insurance Covers Termite Damage Repairs

Reality: Insurance companies consider the damage done by termites to be preventable. Therefore, home insurance does not cover termite damage. This also extends to damage done by other pests such as rats and mice.

This misconception about termites is a very prevalent one. I’ve seen many homeowners caught off guard when they find out that their insurance doesn’t cover the thousands of dollars of damage done by termites.

The closest thing to ‘termite insurance’ is to get a professional pest controller to do a preventative termite treatment like a chemical soil treatment or a monitoring & baiting system. A good pest controller will offer a warranty on their termite work.

6. Myth: Termites Only Eat Wood

Reality: There are over 350 species of termite in Australia, and only a few of them eat wood. Most termites in Australia are grass or soil feeders. In our local area (Albury, Wodonga, Rutherglen, Wangaratta, etc.), we only have 6 or 7 termite species that will attack houses.

The myth is partly true for some types of termites. Our local species in the Termitidae family mostly only eat hardwoods. This family of termites includes Nasutitermes and Microcerotermes.

However, Rhinotermitidae species do most of the damage to houses in our local area. These ‘lower termites’ will eat almost anything with cellulose in it, including wood, paper, cotton, clothing… anything derived from plants. These termites include Coptotermes and Heterotermes.

7. Myth: Steel Framed Houses Are Termite-Proof

Reality: While they might be less susceptible to termite damage compared to those with wooden frames, steel-framed houses are not termite-proof. Termites can still find entry points through gaps, cracks, and other vulnerabilities in the building’s structure.

Steel-framed houses also have plenty of timber in them. There are always timber skirtings, architraves, sliding door frames, cupboards, and furniture. Plenty of food for termites.

8. Myth: DIY Termite Treatments Are Equal to Professional Pest Control

Reality: DIY termite treatments may offer temporary relief, but they often fall short of the comprehensive termite protection provided by professional pest control services. Effective termite management requires a thorough understanding of termite behaviour, advanced treatment methods, and ongoing monitoring.

It’s a common misconception that you can control termites with a spray bought from a hardware store and that’ll fix the problem. But termite colonies can have over a million termites in them. You might kill a hundred, a thousand, maybe even over a hundred thousand termites by spraying them. But the termite colony will just block off that area and come up in another spot.

There’s a reason a pest controller needs a separate qualification to handle termites and timber pests, on top of the standard pest control licence. They are complex insects and extremely difficult to eradicate without proper knowledge.

9. Myth: Termites Can’t Eat Treated Timber

Reality: I see termites attacking treated pine and craftwood all the time. Not all treated pine is created equally. The universal safety of treated pine is the biggest termite myth in the building industry.

Here are a few reasons why termites can attack houses built with treated timber:

• The treatment only soaks into the sapwood and doesn’t penetrate the heartwood of the timbers. So, the heartwood area of the framing timbers remains susceptible to termite attack.
• For this reason, builders must re-seal the ends of the timber when they cut it. However, this almost never happens in my experience, so termites can enter the timber through the cut.
• Different grades of treated timber serve specific purposes and some are unsuitable for outdoor or structural use. I often see cases where people use treated timber rated for indoor use outdoors. This can cause the treatment to weather and allow termite attack.
• Termites can travel along treated timber to get to untreated timbers, like skirtings, door frames, and cupboards. It doesn’t repel them at all, only stops them from eating it (sometimes).

10. Myth: Yearly Inspections Are Sufficient for Termite Management

Reality: Relying solely on yearly inspections is risky. Termite activity can progress rapidly, causing significant damage before the next inspection. Regular inspections, along with preventive measures and proper maintenance, are essential for effective termite risk management.

Termite inspections do not prevent termite attacks. Instead, they are only a description of the building at the time of inspection. They are the absolute bare minimum you should be doing to manage the risk of termite attack on your property.

Houses that do not have any termite management like a barrier or monitoring system should have at least six-monthly inspections instead of every 12 months.

If you would like more information about how to protect your home from termites, you can call us Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm on 02 6032 7137 or visit our Contact Us page for more ways to reach us.