Termites could be on the march into Sunshine Coast homes after months of damp weather, experts warn.
Termite and pest controllers say the wet summer and autumn have created the perfect conditions for termites, which will be on the hunt for more food.
Dean Gselmann, of Sunny Coast Pest Control, said the wet weather meant timber was soft and easier for termites to eat, which meant populations increased – and so did their demand for food.
“It’s just been a really wet summer and wet autumn. It’s creating a damp, moist environment which is attractive to termites,” he said.
“Normally, it dries up a bit more but there’s a lot of moisture in the ground.
“When there’s been this much rain there’s plenty of natural growth for them to eat, and there’s increased termite activity, but that means they need increased food.”
Peter Arnold, of Termite Doctors, said termite activity picked up when there was ongoing moisture.
“When you’ve got the hot, wet weather, it stimies them in their foraging, but when the weather gets a bit cooler and we get light rain, they become very active,” he said.
“At the moment, we’ve really got moist conditions, with termites heading into houses.”
Mr Arnold said the Sunshine Coast had ideal conditions for termites because it tended to “catch” the moisture compared to areas to the north and west, and natural vegetation flourished.
Mr Gselmann said Coast suburbs with nearby natural bushland, such as Mountain Creek and Buderim, tended to experience more termite problems than others.
“The more natural the surroundings, the more you have to deal with natural insects, including pests,” he said.
He said many homeowners did not realise they had a termite infestation until significant damage occurred.
Mr Arnold said homeowners who thought they could protect their homes by leaving a pile of timber at the end of the backyard for termites to eat were wrong.
“They’ll just go looking for more,” he said.
Alex Bagenal, also known as “the termite lady”, of Action Termite Solutions, said annual pest inspections were the best way of protecting against termite infestations.
She said termite infestations in rental properties were common because annual pest inspections were often not carried out.
“They’re paying for pest control but they don’t realise that doesn’t include termites,” she said.
Ms Bagenal has been attempting to educate property managers to include termite inspections as part of home maintenance programs.
She said home owners who neglected regular pest inspections could find themselves in difficulty with an insurance claim following a natural disaster if it uncovered termite damage.
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