Are termites active in winter?

Termites during the Perth winter

Western Australians tend to become more concerned about Termites as spring approaches this is due to flying termites (alates) emerging from their nests to start new colonies. 

However termites are an all year round pest and although cold weather tends to make termites a bit lethargic, Perth’s winter weather can provide termites with optimum conditions to feed.  As the rains hit Perth, soil moisture levels increase, which in turn can increase termite activity. 

Soil moisture levels play an important part in the feeding activities of termites and is the reason why termites are often located in areas of the home where a water leak is present or where moisture has built up.  

It is their need for moisture which has shown how important these creatures are in the survival of rainforests during time of drought. In a study carried out between The University of Western Australia, universities of Hong Kong and Malaysia, and British researchers from the University of Liverpool and the Natural History Museum found that termite’s reliance of soil moisture meant during droughts they would help bring groundwater to the surface increasing the soil moisture by about 36%, which in turn increased seedling survival by 51%.

They also found that during droughts in tropical rainforests termite activity increased. This conflicts with observation made in many parts of Australia where termite activity has been seen to decrease in times of drought. However both observations are in fact consistent with the termite response to moisture levels and food location.

In tropical rainforests such as Borneo, the level of soil moisture is often too wet for termites, so when it dries out, soil moisture becomes more optimal and termite activity increases. And even if it is dry on the surface, it doesn’t take too much energy for the termites to bring up some moisture from the soil to the feeding site (they do this using ‘water sacs’ attached to their salivary glands).

Conversely, in parts of Australia the soil moisture tends to be on the dry side for optimal termite activity. So during extended dry periods, termite activity drops, as it is too difficult or sometimes impossible for the termites to transport water to the feeding site. This is the reason why termites are often located in areas of buildings where a water leak is present. Of course during the wet periods in Australia, soil moisture levels become optimum and termite activity increases. 

Termite Prevention

With the winter rains now here it is important to check that water is not gathering around any areas of your home, and that soak wells are in place to help drain storm water away. As always a regular termite inspection by a trained professional is important, as termites left undetected can cause extensive damage to your home.

The Building code of Australia requires some form of termite barrier to be installed to your home during the construction process. However these barriers have a lifespan and require retreating. It is important to ensure your home has an effective termite barrier in place. 


If you're concerned about termites or just want to learn more about how you can protect your home contact Termico Pest Management today  or alternatively check out the Termites page on our website today.

Sources:
L. A. Ashton et al. ‘Termites mitigate the effects of drought in tropical rainforest.’ Science, 2019 DOI: 10.1126/science.aau9565

The University of Western Australia ‘Termites help reduce the impact of drought on tropical rainforests’. University News. 11 Jan 2019.

‘How Termites Help Tropical Forests Withstand Droughts’ by Shreya Dasgupta. Pacific Standard. 15 Jan 2019.

Professional Pest Manager 'Termites save the rainforest in times of drought' 01 Mar 2019

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