Large Termites Nests on Nearby Trees – What You Need to Know

Springfield Lakes resident, Kristen asks

“Our house backs onto bushland here at Springfield Lakes and there’s a big tree with a huge termites nest on it. My husband said we should go over there and knock it down. Should we?”

When you see a large termites nest on a tree that’s near your home you might be tempted to go knock it down for fear of the termites attacking your home, but it’s important that you don’t for a number of reasons. Let me explain why.

The initial reaction for most people when they see a large termites’ nest in neighbouring bushland would be to knock it down, spray it with insect spray, or perhaps even set it alight.

What most people don’t realize, however, is that in order to effectively eliminate the termites, you have to treat the source, not just the mound/mud nest itself, as these nests on trees usually don’t contain the queen termite. They are usually underground in the base of the tree.

The location of the nest and tree matters

The first thing that you have to take into consideration is the actual location of the tree.

Is it within the bounds of your property?

If it is, then you can take action and call professionals, like Pest-Ex, to treat the nest using a chemical such as Termidor – an excellent professional termite control product designed specifically for killing termites, and eradicating the entire colony – to make sure you don’t have any problems.

However, if the tree’s not on your property, you can’t legally treat it, and neither can we. We often receive calls from concerned home owners – “There are termites in the park across the road, can you come out and do something about it”

By law, we can’t because it’s government property and in most cases, it needs to be actioned by the local council.

There are some exceptions though.

For instance, last week we were called out by a local school. A huge gum tree was partially eaten away by termites in the walkway from the school to the estate where a lot of people live.

The school gave us a call, and asked: “We want you to get rid of these termites, we’re concerned about the tree falling onto the kids.”

Before doing anything, we had to get permission from the council – knowing that the council would either not take a form of action or would want to knock down the nest. The school also made a point of informing the council that they wanted “licensed pest control professionals to come in and treat the termites.”

The massive gum tree was a safety concern, due to it being partially eaten away by the termites. It could have fallen on children passing by, the school itself or any of the neighboring properties – so the council granted us permission to take action.

Once we were given the go-ahead by the council, we drilled into the base of the tree, around the perimeter, and under the ridge of the tree. We then injected a measured amount of Termidor – a product designed specifically to kill termites – into the tree itself.

Once the termites come into contact with the product, they’ll then pass it back to the colony, resulting in the nest being completely eliminated. This then prevents any further damage to the tree, which ensures that it won’t fall over or become an ongoing threat for the children.

In the near future it may be removed by a licensed Arborist, without any concerns of the termites spreading into nearby properties.

Protection and prevention is the best solution

The best solution regardless of where the nest is located, is protection and prevention. Of course if the tree is on your property the process is a lot more straight forward, but again protecting your home is key.

Installing adequate termite protection, such as a chemical barrier or  termite baits will ensure that your home isn’t affected by a potential termite infestation. Ongoing inspections are vital too.

Keep in mind that if you can physically see a termites’ nest on a tree near your property, then it’s more than likely that there’s a large colony nearby, and your house could be at risk.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call us for an assessment and possible inspection. Termite inspections are recommended at least annually across Australia, After a termite inspection we’ll advise you on the best course of action, and help you protect your home.

In summary

• If the nest is on your property, you can treat the nest and remove the tree
• If the nest isn’t on your property it’s best to call the local council for advice
• Don’t ever simply knock a nest down or try to destroy it as the termites will scatter in all directions – most likely towards your home
• Give us a call if you’re unsure and we will perform an inspection and advise to the best form of action

Ready to work with us?

If you have concerns about a large termites nest in a nearby tree then give us a call. Termites can cause an incredible amount of structural damage to your home, which insurance won’t cover. It pays to spend the money and do the job right.

We guarantee professional and effective termite treatments which will last you up to 8 years using the most effective termite control products in the industry – Termidor.

Give us a call today, we look forward to helping you.