Can You Get Termites in the UK?
WouterIf you live in the UK and haven’t heard of termites, you might be surprised to hear that they are one of the world’s most destructive urban pests. They can damage wood in buildings so seriously that they can cause major structural timber damage.
Subterranean termites are rarely found in the UK. They require warm, damp, well-draining soils to thrive. Their most common source of food is cellulose-based material. This could be timber or other items stored in a building.
Despite the fact that termites are unlikely to become a problem in Britain, there are other things you should be on the lookout for. The presence of woodworm can also result in extensive damage to your property.
The UK Termite Eradication Programme was set up in 1998, with dozens of scientists working to eradicate the pest. The project aimed to use state-of-the-art techniques to kill the insects.
The first step was to detect the colony. The BRE and other government agencies worked to destroy it. They buried wooden bait stakes at six95 sites within a 500-metre radius of Mrs Thornycroft’s bungalow.
Another important part of the process was the use of hexaflumuron, a chemical which can destroy the reproductive cycle of the termites. Hexaflumuron is carried by foraging insects, and is effective at preventing young termites from maturing.
After the successful eradication, the BRE decided to teach other workers in the timber industry how to spot termite infestations. This includes surveyors, architects, and timber workers.
