All large eucalyptus trees (trunks larger than 30cm in basal diameter) or tree stumps within 50 meters should definitely be checked. One particular indicator for termite activity within a tree is definitely the presence of hollow broken branches or mud tracking. This is just a simple indicator and a much more reliable procedure would be to test it by drilling the tree.
N.B Substantial trees will need to be drilled 4-6 times to effectively locate the colony within the tree.
A drill auger (no larger than 12mm in diameter) should be applied to bore the holes close to the center of the tree. If termites are found to be present the center might be hollow or filled in with ‘mud-guts’ and the auger will suddenly begin to penetrate the tree very easily. A thermometer could be applied to make sure if there is a nest situated within the tree.
To ascertain if the termites are nevertheless active within the inside of the tree, termites may possible be seen on the auger or on a long twig inserted within the drill hole and left for a few minutes.
Upon withdrawing the twig check it for termites. Trees which are found to contain termites should be treated with a reliable termiticide applied through the hole created by the auger or it can be treated with arsenic trioxide. (Be advised to always take care and extra safety measures when interacting with dangerous chemicals.)
All drill holes drilled within a tree needs to be plugged using a non-toxic acrylic caulking compound, such as bathroom sealant or antifungal agents especially designed for this purpose. We use Pascal’s “Stop Rot” to defend the trees from fungal decay.
It’s a good idea to avoid using dead wood which includes dowelling because it prevents the tree from healing or a silicon sealant as they include harmful solvents which could lead to damaging the tree.
If you have termites in your home, locating the colony is often the vital first step if you hope to eradicate the termites and decrease the danger within your residence. It will not always be required to get a termite professional to undertake tree drilling, however, in the case that your property contains trees or old tree stumps you should look at contacting a termite specialist who would incorporate tree drilling if it is required when searching for a termite colony putting the structural integrity of your household at risk.
Call us on 0414 267 273 to discuss an appointment or termite colony control strategy, or alternatively email us at info@bluemountainspestcontrol.com.au