Is Australia Overrated?
Jan 28th 2012 | 5:53 pm
#106
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,838
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Yeah, I'm unaware of it as well, haha. We do get swarms of them flying around in November/December but they are not that big a problem. There are no termite mounds dotting the landscape, only the tropical termite species do that!
We do have jack jumper ants and bull ants which are a bit of a problem around Macedon/Mount Macedon. I have been stung a number of times in my life, they are quite nasty and some people in rare cases get allergic reactions and die from them (but then this is no different to honey bees and European wasps). They are not absolutely everywhere though, I mean you can still walk through and lie down in paddocks quite safely. It's not that bad!
As for snakes. They certainly do exist but I have only seen about two in my life. In southern Victoria they tend to prefer swamps and grasslands that dry out in summer. Some other species are out in the bush but they are shy and reclusive, you don't see them very often at all. Very few people get bitten in this state.
We do have jack jumper ants and bull ants which are a bit of a problem around Macedon/Mount Macedon. I have been stung a number of times in my life, they are quite nasty and some people in rare cases get allergic reactions and die from them (but then this is no different to honey bees and European wasps). They are not absolutely everywhere though, I mean you can still walk through and lie down in paddocks quite safely. It's not that bad!
As for snakes. They certainly do exist but I have only seen about two in my life. In southern Victoria they tend to prefer swamps and grasslands that dry out in summer. Some other species are out in the bush but they are shy and reclusive, you don't see them very often at all. Very few people get bitten in this state.
Jan 28th 2012 | 6:36 pm
#107
Banned
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,910
From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
A common misconception is if you dont see termite mounds there cant be termites, most of the termites that attack houses live underground so you never know they are there.
If you're on on stumps get em checked.Just for you.http://www.buildingcommission.com.au...n-victoria.asp
Jan 28th 2012 | 9:26 pm
#108
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 15,526
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
I've not met one person here in Melbourne thats had a problem with termites in 30 years plus. Borer is a different issue... thats everywhere. I would imagine the treatment is almost identical. Thats Lyctine Borer which doesnt attack Pine or Spruce.
Jan 29th 2012 | 12:11 pm
#109
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24,249
From: Alloha snack bar
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Termites are easily controlled with regular treatment. Don't know about Borer? It's not an issue around where I live.
Jan 29th 2012 | 12:55 pm
#110
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,838
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
When I was in Kelmscott not that far from you(If you're the one I'm thinking of) the white ant got into my LP collection that was in the garage.They ate all the covers and nested between the records.I ended up with a couple of blocks of vinyl glued together with ant shit. I lost the lot.Little bastards.
Jan 29th 2012 | 12:58 pm
#111
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24,249
From: Alloha snack bar
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
When I was in Kelmscott not that far from you(If you're the one I'm thinking of) the white ant got into my LP collection that was in the garage.They ate all the covers and nested between the records.I ended up with a couple of blocks of vinyl glued together with ant shit. I lost the lot.Little bastards.
The only 'pest' that has really pissed me off where I live is the Portuguese Millipede - and they are just disgusting and annoying rather than a threat to your home. Thankfully, they seem to have moved on in the last couple of years.
Last edited by Amazulu; Jan 29th 2012 at 1:00 pm.
Jan 29th 2012 | 1:07 pm
#112
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From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Termites are actually extremely difficult to control and eradicate, it is certainly possible to kill an individual nest but as they will travel over 300 metres from a nest a further infestation is very possible. The highly toxic in ground treatments were banned a few years ago as they were too dangerous. You can have the entire slab drilled and the ground injected but if the soil has high clay content it doesn't spread and the termites just come up inbetween where the poison is.
Jan 29th 2012 | 1:54 pm
#113
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,838
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Is Borer=White Ant? No.white ant/termite.They are subterranean and love to munch on wood and David Bowie albums.They stay inside the material of choice and merrily chow down.It's not until something collapses or you put your finger through something that you know they're there.They make muddy tunnels to go back and forth.These are easy to see.Most of the frames in WA are jarrah and they're not too keen on that though they will have a nibble if there's nothing else. Borer is already in the wood.Once they bore out they're gone.
Jan 29th 2012 | 2:01 pm
#114
Proudly Deplorable
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 24,249
From: Alloha snack bar
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Is Borer=White Ant? No.white ant/termite.They are subterranean and love to munch on wood and David Bowie albums.They stay inside the material of choice and merrily chow down.It's not until something collapses or you put your finger through something that you know they're there.They make muddy tunnels to go back and forth.These are easy to see.Most of the frames in WA are jarrah and they're not too keen on that though they will have a nibble if there's nothing else. Borer is already in the wood.Once they bore out they're gone.
Jan 31st 2012 | 8:23 pm
#115
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,446
From: England
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Speaking of ants, we're getting checked for fire ants tomorrow. 
Some rusty ones among the black ants nest out back and they pack a nasty bite. Hopefully just some ordinary red-ish ants.
Some rusty ones among the black ants nest out back and they pack a nasty bite. Hopefully just some ordinary red-ish ants.
Jan 31st 2012 | 9:06 pm
#117
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From: The REAL Utopia.
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Fire ants are tiny but have a far worse bite than a bull ant and ten to bit on mass.
Jan 31st 2012 | 9:18 pm
#119
FREE TIBET
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 18,840
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
I eat fire ants for breakfast with black pudding,then shit on the springbock for tea
Feb 1st 2012 | 11:10 am
#120
Not actually a squirrel
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,446
From: England
Re: Is Australia Overrated?
Not fire ants in our garden, fortunately! 
Just weird, unidentified, red ants... sample taken by dpi for analysis.
They tell me the fire ants are really painful because they are like a wingless wasp and they bite at one end and sting with the other end at the same time.
These little red suckers in our garden were bad enough... dread to think what fire ants are like when they bite.
Just weird, unidentified, red ants... sample taken by dpi for analysis.
They tell me the fire ants are really painful because they are like a wingless wasp and they bite at one end and sting with the other end at the same time.
These little red suckers in our garden were bad enough... dread to think what fire ants are like when they bite.
