Termites

[buddaboy]

Hi Guys, I went outside to do some pottering about. On one of my figs, the bark was hard and cracked around the base. I started poking it and found this:

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Termites were visible as I was peeling the bark off.
The Tree seems healthy so I guess ill finally have some carving to do, but what is the best way if any to be rid of the termites without destroying the tree?

Any ideas would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Buddaboy

[Pup]

Having borers once, which I know are not the same as termites. I used my trusty blow torch on the area where I thought they were. It appears I guessed right I have not had a repeat yet.

What I would be worried about though is the Hacienda is it safe .

Cheers Pup

[dayne]

hi termites actually cant stand light they love dark moist areas like a bonsai pot i would repot the tree wash as much soil of as possible and repot i would allso check around your garden under logs to see if there is much termite activity is your house slab on ground or above groud only asking as im a builder and your fig is the last of your worries

[Chris H]

Get the house sprayed ASAP
If they were termites
There will be a nest somewhere and the fig wont be their last meal.

[buddaboy]

Thanks for the replies,
The house is treated for termites and I check the stumps monthly to keep check on them. My problem is that thirty years ago someone decided to use full size logs as a retaining wall. Some of these babies are 3 foot thick. Really great idea until we have to replace them, Hey? Pup, Ill see if the missus will let me set fire to the tree but i doubt it . I have already washed out the roots and repotted the tree, I just didnt think it would like mortien surface spray all over the place so I asked first.
Thanks,
BB

[sreeve]

Hi Buddaboy,
It looks like your tree is supported on a fibre cement bench.
As suggested, termites like dark moist areas and are unlikely to track (let alone survive) daily exploits across open wasteland (fibre cement board). If you see a track line of mud across your bench top, then the nest is likely at the start of the track - or well below the immediate surface.

Termites are an unfortunate part of Australia and will always be so.

Assuming you dont have a tract to the ground, you may be lucky and have only a few stragglers that inadvertently like your bonsai. If this is the case, then I would have thought a fully submerged swim for a day would sort the problem out.

You now have a nice naturaly feature to build upon with this tree

Good luck with the white ants

Regards
Steve

[aaron_tas]

Termites are an unfortunate part of Australia and will always be so.

yea, but at least in tas there are no termite issues

[Jonden]

Hi Buddaboy,
There used to be a story going around in the early days of bonsai that the Japanese actually introduced termites into their bonsai and wrapped them up to eat the trunk out to form natural driftwood. I have my doubts as to how true this is. I've had some experience with them eating out part of the back of my house, the're gone now though.
Cheers, Jonden

[mike12345]

Thanks for the replies,
The house is treated for termites and I check the stumps monthly to keep check on them. My problem is that thirty years ago someone decided to use full size logs as a retaining wall. Some of these babies are 3 foot thick. Really great idea until we have to replace them, Hey? Pup, Ill see if the missus will let me set fire to the tree but i doubt it . I have already washed out the roots and repotted the tree, I just didnt think it would like mortien surface spray all over the place so I asked first.
Thanks,
BB

There are huge swathes of central Australia which are absolutely covered in termite mines. Those termites are hardest to get rid off. May be you should try Organic pest control for your home, it's a bit slow but i think it will work for you.