Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
It could be bubbles in the paint on the wall, or lights that won’t go off. When you lie awake at night and wonder what that strange scratching sound is, it might be a good idea to call a pest control company in the morning.
Termites are in town once again – and this season may be one of the worst years ever. The torrential rains that flooded most parts of the country have created ideal conditions for these insects to swarm and to flourish. Pest control experts have warned of a particularly high infestation this year, which is likely to cause havoc in thousands of households.
Companies contacted by the Mail & Guardian this week said they have been receiving thousands of calls every month as the termites eat their way through South African households. Most companies offer a free inspection.
The bad news is that not only do normal insurance contracts fail to cover termite infestation, but the Department of Agriculture – which is responsible for such matters – is not in a position to provide much assistance as termites are not listed as agricultural pests. The department is nevertheless advising farmers on measures to take to prevent a termite plague.
Every spring termites swarm over South Africa, thriving on its warm, wet conditions and eating away at houses and furniture.
Janet Mitchell, a termite specialist working for the Plant Protection Institute of the Agricultural Research Council in Pretoria, says the council has been inundated with calls from construction companies complaining about termite problems.
Pest control officials estimate the termites inflict more than R110-million damage to property a year – a figure that is likely to be higher this year because of recent floods.
The Formosan termite – one of the main culprits – is native to China and has been found in Guam, Sri Lanka, Hawaii and the United States. South Africa is not immune to this termite, which was first discovered in the US at a Houston, Texas, shipyard in 1965. Within two years of being discovered, the termites travelled more than 1E600km to Charleston, South Carolina.
The termites move quickly from trees to homes, typically working from the ground up, says Teoft Schoeman, a pest control specialist at Flick Pest Control.
They chew on just about anything, including concrete, bricks and mortar to get to wood. According to specialists, within just two years, your home could be destroyed.
Every home is naturally close to termite colonies, says Schoeman, explaining that the main problem is that termites do not distinguish between the wood in homes and the wood in forests.
It is a myth that a concrete slab beneath a house protects the structure from termite invasion. The fact is, specialists say, virtually all homes have a wood frame, so no matter how the wood is separated from the soil, dry-wood termites can work their way to it from the ground underneath. A concrete slab does not eliminate wood-to-ground contact as termites can construct tunnels through cracks in concrete.
Termites need moisture to survive and will die if exposed to sunlight or open air. High-moisture areas like basements are very attractive to termites and can serve as starting points for infestation.
Schoeman warns that nothing homeowners can do themselves will save their houses from being eaten away by termites. The problem is that termites hide. They avoid light and rarely come out into the open, chewing away quietly at wiring, bricks and mortar.
Pest control specialists say termite attacks can escape anyone’s notice for a long time, but there are ways to detect them.
So, when you hear those strange noises, or when the wood in the window frames looks mottled, or when the light in the toilet or laundry is inexplicably out of order, it’s time to contact the termite control company.