Is there such a thing as a ‘Termite Season’ in Brisbane?
Termites are relentlessly searching for timber, operating year-round, 24/7, without respite. Unlike black ants, termites work through the night!
However, their activity level may vary depending on certain factors that can accelerate or decelerate their damaging effects on your home.
The four major factors that increase termite risk
- Soil temperature - seasonal change
- Availability of moisture - rainfall or access to a leak
- Availability of food - your house
- Size of the termite nest - bigger the termite nest - more mouths to feed
Termites need to stay warm
To be functional, termites need to maintain a “core” temperature in their nest between 25°C and 36°C.
Nests are usually maintained at a temperature between 25°C - 36°C. This varies, depending on the species, the external temperature and the health of the colony. Healthy colonies are able to maintain this range during very hot and very cold external conditions. The Australian Museum
What months are termites most active in Australia
In Brisbane, Australia, the most active months for termites (White Ants) are between November and March.
This is primarily triggered by increased rainfall and higher temperatures.
Termite swarming season
Spring and early Summer months offer humid, warm nights, perfect conditions for reproductive termites to take to flight en masse, searching for a mate to establish their own colony. It’s freaky how all the nests throughout South East Queensland know that this is the night to party!
Each colony has been breeding thousands and thousands of winged termites (Alates) throughout the winter and autumn. Once they get the green light, they start to swarm from an exit hole constructed near their nest.
For more information about Flying Termites
Cooler months - April to October
With the chillier months of autumn and winter, the temperature of the ground and your home becomes cooler. If the ground temperature drops below 24° Celsius, the termites find it hard to function and move. The cooler the environment, the less efficient the termites will be.
When it gets warm, the Queen termite will start laying more eggs in the nursery. She knows that the worker termites’ ability to forage for food and transport it back to the growing colony improves.
Brisbane is the Termite Capital of Australia
Due to the large number of dwellings and the warm temperature, South East Queensland has the most extensive termite repair bills in Australia!
The further north you travel, the more prevalent termites will be. You will also find homeowners up North are more aware and take the proper precautions.
The cooler months of winter can bring the termites out!
Your warm house can provide an ideal nesting spot for termites during winter.
During the cooler months in South East Queensland, it is not uncommon to find a termite nest inside a house with a population of millions huddled together, trying to keep the nursery warm.
The good thing about looking for termites in winter is that the temperature variance inside your home is starker, and a termite nest can show up more clearly with our Flir Thermal Cameras.
The warm yellow glow of a termite nest in a toilet wall.
What time of the year is best to get termites treated?
Anytime is good to install a chemical treatment to protect your home from termites. If you don’t have a current termite management system, your home is at high risk of a termite attack.
The main reason houses in Brisbane get attacked by termites is that nothing is stopping them.
Contact us now
Contact Conquer Termites to organise an inspection or to discuss a treatment. CALL 1300 417 007
