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Are Termites Active in Autumn

Are Termites Active in Autumn

by | Jun 5, 2023 | Termites

ARE TERMITES ACTIVE IN AUTUMN?

 

Just because the weather is getting cooler, it doesn’t mean that active termites will just disappear. Like many other creepy crawlies, you’ll find that they thrive better in warmer conditions, but are still able to survive well in the cold. No matter the temperature, once termites have managed to make their way inside your home, they won’t stop causing thousands of dollars of damage that insurance won’t cover.

If you’re concerned about a potential termite outbreak, read on to learn more about termite behaviour in autumn and signs of an infestation

What questions will this article answer?

When are termites most active?

In many parts of the world, including Adelaide, termites are active all year round, no matter the season. The queen termite will continue laying eggs to help maintain the colony. While the ideal temperature for termite survival is 23-38 degrees Celsius, they also prefer areas with moisture.

Although it seems that termites prefer a warm, humid climate, and the weather can certainly affect the formation of new colonies, make no mistake – they can still be laying low nearby when the mercury drops.

Many species of termites have evolved to survive in winter, and others actively look for warm places to shelter, such as your home.

Once they’ve entered your foundations, walls and other cellulose-rich wooden structures, they will silently eat away at the wood, resulting in significant damage. At this point, no weather conditions will deter termites away from a feast of their favourite food.

Termite activity through the seasons

It’s more common to see termites swarming and flying in summer, but this is just a visible sign that there are termites are nearby. In other seasons, there can still be many more hidden away underground and sheltering inside homes and businesses silently causing destruction.

Here’s the pattern of behaviour that you should expect from termites throughout the year:

Spring

Spring time is when termites begin to pair off to mate, with each couple swarming or flying away or from the colony to start their own. The female termite will lay eggs inside a rotten tree stump or decaying wood.

Summer

As swarming continues, there also are many termites out and about foraging for food. While many worker termites die during this time, the secondary queen will lay more eggs to keep the colony populated. Damp wood termites are most commonly active during summer.

Winter

In winter, most termites will avoid the harsh elements and become less active in foraging for food. The queen termite will also lay less eggs during this time.

To escape the cold weather, many species of subterranean termites will dig deeper underground to seek warmth. Others will look for protection within your home.

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Termite activity in autumn

There are some dry wood termites, in particular subterranean termites, that prefer cooler weather. In fact, there is one species that is known to have active swarmers during the autumn months.

What are the signs of active termites?

Here are some ways to tell if you have termite activity in your home or business:

  • Look for changes to walls, floors and ceilings, such as cracks, changes to the paint, sagging and blistering.
  • Door frames may become warped and doors may be harder to open or close
  • You notice mud tubes which are small brown coloured, elongated tunnels with an outer wall made from dirt, wood, debris and droppings
  • You hear a hollow sound when tapping on termite-infested timber structures
  • You see piles of swarmer or flying termite wings
  • You experience frequent electricity interruptions due to termite activity interfering with wiring

Termite activity can be difficult to see until it’s too late without extra equipment and special training. For early detection, a professional termite inspection is the way to go.

 

Don’t wait ‘til it’s too late.
Book your termite inspection today.

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Professional termite control

Due to the high risk of structural damage to your home or business, we recommend seeking professional assistance to prevente termites as fast as possible.

At Allstate, we’ll carry out a thorough inspection of your property before coming up with a treatment plan.

We normally use above ground and underground baiting systems to remove termites, depending the affected areas of your home.

For targeted treatments inside your home, we’ll normally use Premise, which is a non-repellent termiticide, placed in treatment zones. This product is safe for children, pets and the environment.

Our go-to underground baiting system is Sentricon Always Active, which is placed around the perimeter of your home, and in areas with high amounts of termite foraging.

Learn more about how we detect and treat termite outbreaks

Choose Allstate for effective termite control this autumn

As termites don’t stop being a pest in autumn, your home or business could still be at high risk of an outbreak. Fortunately, Allstate is here to help.

Family owned and local, with over 30 years’ experience in pest control and management, Allstate has provided services to homes and businesses in all types of settings across Adelaide.

Our team is licensed, highly experienced and fully equipped to detect and treat termite outbreaks early.

We understand that termite outbreaks can be stressful and disruptive, and that’s why we are available 24/7 for advice about any pest issue or concern that you may have.

All our treatments come with a 100% money-back, satisfaction warranty and are non-toxic towards children, pets and the environment. With interest-free pay plans available, you won’t need to delay any urgent termite inspection or treatment any futher.

Get long-lasting protection from termites with Allstate

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8371 1277

On the road with Kiki – Episode 25

On the road with Kiki – Episode 25

by | May 30, 2023 | Kiki

On the road with Kiki – Episode 25
mao0231

On the road with Kiki – Episode 25

forktree project tim

Welcome back for our latest episode of On the Road with Kiki. In this series, pest consultant Kristian takes us with him to visit homes and businesses around Adelaide as he assesses pest outbreaks.

The first client of the day has previously had solar panel pigeon proofing installed by Allstate, but unfortunately, some of the pesky pigeons have still refused to leave. Kristian climbs up to the roof and sees that there are a few stubborn pigeons nesting between some panels and a bird spike. He gives the client a quote for a bird trapping program as well as applying some optical bird gel to scare the pigeons away once and for all.

Then, it’s off to a roof space pest assessment at a rental property. The client thinks that they can hear some possums entering the roof. Kristian goes up into the roof space for a look, and it’s definitely not possums. Instead, he finds rat and mouse droppings. He leaves the client with a quote for rodent baiting.

For the last job of the day, Kristian heads down to a café in Goodwood. The owner is wanting some competitive quotes for preventative pest treatment. They are particularly concerned about flies, so Kristian suggests using Seclira as a residual spray, but the client isn’t keen on this option as he is concerned about food contamination. Instead, they are more interested in having a spray unit installed above the door. Kristian says that while most pest control maintenance is done quarterly, the above-door fly treatment unit needs to be tended to monthly as it will fill up quickly with dead flies and stop being effective. He offers the client a quote, and then it’s home time!

Family-owned and established in 1986, Allstate has become the largest pest control company in Adelaide. Available 24/7 to provide assessments and treatments to homes and businesses in all suburbs, our highly trained team is always ready to help. As a proud local business, we’re keen to work with other businesses to create a strong future for our community.

For long-lasting treatments and safe pest control services, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

protect your home or business from pests today.

or
8371 1277

On the road with Kiki – Episode 24

On the road with Kiki – Episode 24

by | May 29, 2023 | Kiki

On the road with Kiki – Episode 24
mao0231

On the road with Kiki – Episode 24

forktree project tim

Thanks for tuning in for our latest episode of On the Road with Kiki, where pest consultant Kristian takes us along as he visits homes and businesses across Adelaide to assess pest outbreaks. Today, it’s a race against the weather as heavy rain is forecast for later in the day!

First stop is in Glanville for a termite prevention quote. From what Kristian can see, the client already has some perimeter protection, possibly Kordon, but it could be another company. He suggests that they double check their records and gives them a quote for a preventative termite treatment around the perimeter of the home.

Then it’s off to another client’s home for a possum assessment. The client believes that some dislodged tiles at the corner of the roof have provided an entry point inside. While they’ve since had the tiles fixed, the possum has now become stuck inside, so they’ve tried to open the gap again to allow it out. Kristian climbs up onto the roof for a look and can’t find any other entry points, so he recommends installing a one-way door and trap to catch the possum and repeating the process over consecutive days just in case there’s more than one pesky possum.

With the rain coming soon, Kristian heads down to Old Reynella for a termite assessment. There are obvious signs of damage to the wooden posts of the pergola and mud tubes. Kristian also looks over the tree in the front yard, and while it doesn’t give a hollow sound when he taps on it, termites could still have filled it up with mud inside. He manages to measure up outside for a baiting system to be installed before the rain comes, and the client accepts his quote. The technicians will be back next week to start the job.

The rain has finally arrived and it’s bucketing down, making it hard to complete outdoor pest assessments, so Kristian has had to reschedule the last client of the day.

Established in 1986, Allstate has grown to become an industry leader in providing pest control services to homes and businesses in all suburbs of Adelaide. Our highly trained team is available 24/7 for emergency callouts and fully equipped with innovative treatments to tackle pest outbreaks of any size. As a local business, Allstate is committed to partnering with other businesses and supporting the growth of our local community.

For safe and effective pest control services, contact Allstate today.

Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

protect your home or business from pests today.

or
8371 1277

The Ultimate Guide to Fabric Pests

The Ultimate Guide to Fabric Pests

by | May 24, 2023 | Pests

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FABRIC PESTS

 

Finding insects eating away at your clothes, furniture or carpet may not sound like a situation that you’d expect to see. However, it’s an unfortunate reality when you’ve got a fabric pest outbreak.

Although they tend to prefer feasting on keratin-rich fabrics such as wool and animal fur, many will happily settle for synthetic textiles, cotton and linen.

If putting your belongings at risk of irreversible damage isn’t enough, fabric pests are also clever at finding hiding spots to avoid being caught.

To learn more about identifying and getting rid of fabric pests such carpet beetles, case making clothes moths and silverfish, we’ve put together this handy guide.

What questions will this article answer?

What are fabric pests?

There are many different types of creepy crawlies that will use textiles and fabrics as food sources. Known as fabric pests, they are attracted to keratin, which is a type of protein that is commonly found in animal fur and hair. This means that they’ll leave unsightly holes in your clothing and chew off strands of animal fur by breaking it at the base

Their diet includes wool, leather, mohair and feathers. However, if these aren’t readily available, fabric pests will also target cotton, silk, linen and synthetic fabric, especially if they contain traces of food, perspiration or even urine.

The fabric pests that you’ll most likely encounter are case making clothes moths, carpet beetles and silverfish.

Common fabric pests

Let’s introduce you to the most widely found fabric pests in Adelaide:

Varied carpet beetles

Known for their characteristic wing pattern of light and dark brown transverse bands, and white, brown and yellow scales, adult varied carpet beetles are 2-3mm long and take 2-5 months to reach full maturity. Their larvae are brown and 4-5mm long.

They often make their way inside homes through bird and wasp nests, where females normally lay eggs.

While fully matured adults feed on pollen from flowers, the larvae are known to attack carpets, animal hides, feathers and fabrics such as cotton, wool and silk, particularly if they contain traces of food or fluid. Varied carpet beetles also eat corn, red capsicum and rye meal.

Black Carpet Beetle

Ranging from dark brown to a shiny black appearance and covered with fine, grey-black hairs, adult black carpet beetles grow to 2.5-5mm long, with the larvae also taking on a dark brown colour. Female black carpet beetles also lay eggs in bird and wasp nests.

They take 9-15 months to fully mature, which means that their larvae have plenty of time to feed on animal hair, fur, hides and wool. They’ve also been known to penetrate food packaging to enjoy nuts, cereals and stored grains.

They tend to leave behind a mess as they shed their larval outer shells and leave behind droppings which look like tiny, irregular pellets.

If you happen to find black carpet beetles on your windowsill, remember that they are good at dispersing throughout a building, so an outbreak can be hard to manage.

Case making clothes moth

Known for their distinct silken cases spun by larvae to dodge predators, case making clothes moths carry around this protective disguise as they take 3-4 months to fully mature. Their cases generally take on the colour of the fabric that they have eaten.

With their colours ranging from a shiny grey-yellow to brown, adults can grow to 6.5mm long and reach a wingspan of 12mm. Their wings have a fringed appearance on the edges.

If you stumble across a silken case attached to a wall or ceiling, you could have the first sign of an outbreak on your hands.

They behave differently to other moths, who are always are drawn towards light. Instead, case making clothes moths will seek out darker areas or hide underneath objects such as furniture.

While they are a very common pest, they can often go easily undetected as they feed on animal hair and fur, as well as feathers, tobacco, hemp and spices. Case making clothes moths normally enter homes through contaminated clothing, groceries, or simply just fly inside.

Silverfish

With a silver-grey colour, long antennae, 3 tails and elongated appearance, silverfish can range between 2-18mm long and tend to be nocturnal creatures.

While they mainly feed on plant material and fungi, silverfish have been known to enjoy starch-rich food sources such as starched cotton and paste, as well as linen, silk, synthetic fibres and paper.

They normally hitchhike into your home through contaminated food, such as pet food and starchy, sugary food.

As they moult every 2-3 weeks, you may find their shedded skins scattered over the floor during an outbreak.

Silverfish can take 3 months to 3 years to fully mature, and prefer to hide in less frequented, dark places during the daytime.

Manage fabric pests.
Our expert is ready to help you now.

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Problems caused by fabric pests

If left unchecked, an outbreak of fabric pests can cause widespread damage to your personal belongings such as clothing, carpet, rugs, curtains and furniture.

They also leave a mess behind with their shed skins, silk threads and cocoons during the maturation process.

As scavengers, they will often eat stored food products and cause contamination.

Being small in size, they can easily crawl into small hiding places to evade treatment and lay eggs, making an infestation so much harder to control.

Signs of a fabric pest outbreak

Here are some ways to tell if you have pesky fabric pests around your home:

  • You notice damaged fabrics and textiles, including holes in clothing or loose carpet pile. You may even see moths or larvae on textiles and hidden in crevices on fabrics in dark places
  • Droppings on clothing will be the same colour of the consumed fabric
  • You see more insects than usual, especially around windows and door frames, as well as underneath heavy furniture, such as the sofa, particularly if they fly away once you move it. Check skirting boards and corners carefully
  • You find larvae in quiet, dark places, including wardrobes, closets and underneath heavy furniture and sticky silk cocoons covered with droppings, fabric debris, dust or hairs
  • You notice an increase in insect debris, such as shed brown skin and droppings from carpet beetles. Also look for silk threads, cocoons, tubes and sacs.
  • Black carpet beetles deposit their eggs in dark, protected places, for example in piles of lint, under and beneath skirting boards, in cracks and crevices, as well as air ducts

How to prevent a fabric pest outbreak

You can take small steps, which can make a big difference to protecting your home and belongings from a fabric pest outbreak. Here are some ideas:

  • Regularly vacuum and steam clean carpets to reduce dirt build-up, especially if they are made of wool or a wool blend, taking care to check behind and under furniture. You’ll want to remove dust, hair, fish food, spices and cigars or cigarettes that larvae can feed on. Pay attention to wardrobes, closets and walk-in robes.
  • Regularly inspect clothes, including underneath cuffs, collars and patches. Consider washing clothing and fabric even if it is less frequently used
  • For clothes and bedding and that aren’t used in your regular rotation, you can store these away in tightly sealed plastic bags
  • Place mothballs, Camphor or adhesive strips inside closets, linen cupboards, wardrobes and also inside pianos
  • Seal off entry points to the building, including cracks, crevices, gaps and holes in walls, skirting boards, windows, doors. Ensure that fly screens are well fitted and maintained and cover vents with mesh. Consider door seals for all outside entrance doors
  • Remove bird and wasp nests on buildings as they are a common place of shelter for carpet beetles
  • Avoid purchasing second hand furniture/clothes, and if you do, carefully inspect them for fabric pests before bringing them inside
  • Keep food sealed in sturdy, airtight containers 
  • Consider using a dehumidifier
  • To keep away silverfish, you can use strong smelling cleaners with citrus, lavender and cinnamon essential oils. Moth balls, Borax and diatomaceous earth are useful as well

To protect large items such as furniture or large rugs, we recommend contacting Allstate for more specific advice.

Safeguard your belongings from fabric pests.
Contact Allstate’s experts today.

or
8371 1277

Trust Allstate for fast and effective fabric pest removal

It can certainly be stressful to open up your wardrobe and find fabric pests flying and crawling around and ruining your favourite clothes. Fortunately, Allstate can help prevente the problem before it gets worse.

Family owned and established in 1986, Allstate has provided pest control services across all metropolitan suburbs of Adelaide in commercial, industrial and residential settings.

Our experienced, highly trained team is fully equipped to resolve all fabric pest outbreaks with modern and up-to-date solutions and advice. You can rest assured that all our treatments are nontoxic towards children, pets and the environment.

Available 24/7 to respond to urgent callouts and emergencies, we also have interest-free payment plans available to make it easier to access our services. To maintain quality, we have a a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee and competitive warranty on all our services.

Contact Allstate today for expert fabric pest prevention

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8371 1277

Professional fabric pest prevention

For extensive outbreaks, and those that are affecting large items such as a sofa or a commercial space, it’s best to leave it to experienced professionals with the right equipment.

At Allstate, we have experienced pest technicians on standby 24/7 ready to respond to all urgent problems.

We recommend placing all affected clothing, bed linen, curtains and other textiles into a sealed plastic bag for a few days in the sun or freezer to kill off all larvae and eggs before washing.

Your pest technician will assess the extent of the problem and determine which type of fabric pest they’re dealing with to come up with a targeted treatment plan. Our fabric pest prevention treatments usually involve:

    Pyrethrin dust

    When applied to affected areas, the fine particles of pyrethrin dust are an effective way of treating any small hiding places such as tiny cracks, holes, gaps and crevices.

    Fumigation

    Ideal for large outbreaks as they cover a wide area, our insecticide fumigation can also penetrate small hiding spots. It is ideally used for spraying cracks and crevices around skirting boards, door and window casings, shelving, tiles, loose mouldings and around pipe joins in walls and floors.

    Residual insecticide

    For a longer lasting way to keep fabric pests away, we recommend using sprays that stay active on surfaces for longer.

    Pheromone traps

    Laced with an attractant to lure male carpet beetles and case making clothes moths and then trapping them on the adhesive surface, pheromone traps are designed to prevent these male pests from mating and reproducing, resulting in a gradual decline of the pest population.

    Review

    To make sure that we have your fabric pest outbreak under control, we’ll return for a follow-up treatment. The timing of this review depends on the life cycle of the fabric pest in question. Your pest technician will also prepare a report for you to keep as a reference.

    On the road with Kiki – Episode 23

    On the road with Kiki – Episode 23

    by | May 15, 2023 | Kiki

    On the road with Kiki – Episode 23
    mao0231

    On the road with Kiki – Episode 23

    forktree project tim
    It’s that time of the week again! Welcome back for another episode of On the Road with Kiki, where pest consultant Kristian takes us around to Adelaide homes and businesses to assess pest outbreaks.

    He kicks off his day with a pigeon assessment at a townhouse. With newly installed solar panels catching the attention of pesky pigeons, the owner says that he can hear their feet scuffling around on the roof. Kristian leaves him with a quote for solar panel proofing to all sides of the panels to prevent pigeons from nesting underneath.

    Next up is a possum assessment with possible droppings found in the roof void. Kristian asks the client if they can hear the tell-tale signs of hissing, thumping and fighting in the early morning or late at night. However, it’s there’s no doubt once he climbs up to the roof that there is possum activity. He identifies multiple entry points, as well as droppings. Kristian organises a quote for roof repairs, and the installation of a one-way door, trap and a nesting box to relocate the possums to the backyard.

    All this hard work has made Kristian crave a pick-me-up, and with the best coffee in Adelaide, Brown Charlie Co in the Adelaide CBD is the most obvious choice.

    Then it’s back on the road to head over to a house that has recently been sold to an interstate client. They want to have a termite protection system added. Kristian finds a few areas of concern, including a fair bit of timber and wood scattered around the yard, as well as old termite damage to a wooden sleeper. He emails the client a quote for a baiting system to be installed.

    Finally, the end of the week is well in sight as Kristian heads off to the last job of the day, and it’s a preventative termite quote to a one storey unit. Again, there are wooden sleepers in the yard, so he recommends either a liquid treatment or baiting system installation and sends the client a quote.

    Family owned and operated since 1986, Allstate has since become Adelaide’s leading pest control company. Available 24/7 for urgent callouts, we have residential, commercial and industrial clients in all suburbs of Adelaide. Being a local business, we strongly believe in working together with other businesses to create a brighter future for our community.

    For safe and reliable pest control services, contact Allstate today.

    Choose Allstate for safe, nontoxic treatments to

    protect your home or business from pests today.

    or
    8371 1277