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Parasites and their risks: frequently asked questionsTermites in France: A state of emergency declaredTo put an end to false opinions and provide you with detailed information on the precise problems that concern you, here is a series of frequently asked questions... with perhaps some surprising answers! Test your knowledge of termites and the damage they cause... Is termite a feminine noun in French?Are termites in France the same as those in Africa? Are termites related to ants? Do they only act at night? Do they swim? Do termites feed on all types of wood, living or dead? Do termites only attack wood? Can termites infest soil that contains granite? Can a newly-built home be attacked? Am I completely safe if my frame has been treated? Am I safe if my house contains little wood? Is termite a feminine noun in French?NO. Termite is a common masculine noun (un termite) that designates a white xylophagous insect that forms colonies made up of both male and female insects. It can leave its natural habitat to attack our homes. A mere two millimeters long, it is the terror of landowners! Back to TopAre termites in France the same as those in Africa?NO. In Africa, termites build termite very distinctive mounds in cathedral form above gound. Termites in France build their nests underground. The giant queen termites in Africa are also often mentioned. Our colonies, in France, do not have one but many reproductive couples... that are all small! Back to TopAre termites related to ants?NO. Ants and termites only share their size and social life. They have different developments: they do not belong to the same order, even if, by error, termites are sometimes called "white ants." Back to TopDo they only act at night?NO. They move about night and day; however, these xylophagous insects dislike light. They construct galleries or tunnels to avoid light. Back to TopDo they swim?NO. Even if termites can fly during the swarming period, bore to seek food or open new passages, they cannot swim. Colonies are often found near bodies of water because humidity is indispensable for termite survival. Back to TopDo termites feed on all types of wood, living or dead?YES. Nevertheless, this affirmation should be nuanced. In fact, many living and healthy trees will never be attacked by termites because they secrete dissuasive molecules and/or toxins. But a weakened tree, victim of excess heat for example, can be infested by a termite colony. It must also be noted that termite mandibles enter more easily in soft-wood beams: chesnut and oak offer more resistance than pine... Back to TopDo termites only attack wood?NO. Termites feed on cellulose: they therefore consume wood and all its derivatives (cardboard, paper, etc.). They can also damage books, walls, wallpaper, vapor barriers and drywall... Moreover, their search for food leads them to cut a path through materials that they do not eat, but merely damage significantly: plaster, polystyrene, wire coating... Back to TopCan termites infest soil that contains granite?YES. The soil in Italy, Spain and Brittany are rich in granite but are not without termites. A simple layer of humus and dead wood covering the rock is enough for them to live. Back to TopCan a newly-built home be attacked?YES. Termites make no distinction betzeen new and old homes. Their colonies live underground and seek cellulose in the closest buildings, young or old... Newer wood, it is true, is usually treated and therefore protected, but there are still other sources of cellulose for the colony: wallpaper, archives in basements, skirting boards, doors... Back to TopAm I completely safe if my frame has been treated?NO. Of course, treating a frame generally protects it from insects that live in wood like capricorn beetles, furniture beetles... But the rest of the house is not protected from a termite attack, since they live underground and infest houses from below! Back to TopAm I safe if my house contains little wood?NO. Each year, buildings that contain little wood (schools, gymnasiums, metal-frame buildings...) are attacked and require treatment. The damage concerns doors, skirting boards, but also plaster and polystyrene that termites pass through easily while looking for cellulose. Termites can also follow electric cables, damaging their coating, creating problematic short-circuits. The notion that termites only attack houses that contain a lot of wood should be abandoned! Back to Top |
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