White Ants in the Play-Pen

[2iar]

What are black ants doing, watering your grass?

At a guess I'd say they're watering his grass.

Helpfully,
Mike

[Figjamm]

Maybe you will need more supplys

That's possible, but our fibreglassing mate has repaired many boats over the years, and he thinks we've got very close to everything we'll need.

Go the 600mm full pod
there is a guy in hobart that makes a bolt on glass pod for $500, dont know of frieght cost but I could get his PH No if you like

Thanks, but no thanks. He's gone off the idea

[Figjamm]

[quote author=ColacGirl link=1137501549/60#67 date=1138106231]

Did you know that black ants eat termites (white ants)?

I have about 4 black ant nests around the house. I will happliy send you a nest.
[/quote]

Thanks for your offer Steve, but we're right for ants at the moment

They bite your feet when watering the grass

Well that's easy solved.... don't water the grass!

[Sportfish_5]

You guys must love that boat - I would have picked up 20 lts of ULP as the only supplies if faced with that


Good luck and keep the pics going


Cheers

Greg

[blaze]

have we worked out a timeline yet?, Take it easy as burnout does happen and you will get sick of the sight of it. Your shed looks a touch bigger (at least higher) than mine too.
cheers
blaze

[Figjamm]

Report #11

Australia Day

There were no fresh mud tracks this morning.... have we finally got them all?

Not much to report, just grinding, grinding and more grinding to bring the interior back to the original fibreglass, and some dust elimination with the Sadie.... feels like there has been no progress as it doesn't look any different than it did this morning! So no photos today.

[Figjamm]

You guys must love that boat - I would have picked up 20 lts of ULP as the only supplies if faced with that

Believe me, similar thoughts crossed through our minds But we decided we do love her too much to do something like that... she's a very comfy old girl

[Figjamm]

have we worked out a timeline yet?

No, it will just get done as time permits. Back in the water before Easter would be nice.

Knock off time came early today.... 3 o'clock he'd had enough of the dust so he got cleaned up and we got away from here to forget about it all for awhile.

[Swerve]

[quote author=Sportfish_5 link=1137501549/75#78 date=1138190821]You guys must love that boat - I would have picked up 20 lts of ULP as the only supplies if faced with that

Believe me, similar thoughts crossed through our minds But we decided we do love her too much to do something like that... she's a very comfy old girl
[/quote]
Well done and keep up the reports. I'm really enjoying them as it's good to see what really is required to complete the work. I'm sure your ontop off it, but make sure the little buggeres are realy gone before rebuilding

Question- when your pulling out the wood and ants. What are you doing with them ? are you concerned they may start up on your house or surrounds ?

Steve

[Figjamm]

I'm sure your on top off it, but make sure the little buggeres are
really gone before rebuilding

There have been no new mud tracks for 2 days now :-)

All the old timber will have been removed except the transom. It appears to be untouched, but it will be checked more thoroughly before the new stringers and floor go in. If it is staying we will probably have it injected with a termiticide just to err on the side of caution.

Question- when your pulling out the wood and ants. What are you doing
with them?

We cremated the nest and the heavily infested timber immediately surrounding it.

Termites do not like light and are prone to desiccation (dryness resulting
from the removal of water), so the rest of the timber was put out in the sun where it was soon swarmed by black ants. :-)

are you concerned they may start up on your house or surrounds ?

No. You may have noticed in the photos that we live in a heavily treed area, and the vacant blocks on one side and across the road are natural bush, so there are already termites around here in their natural environment. The house and immediate surrounds have been treated and are regularly inspected. In hindsight, we should have had the boat inspected too :-(


From various websites I have gathered info on how "most" new termite
colonies are formed. The winged reproductive termites (known as swarmers or alates) leave their original nest and take a colonising flight. They look like flying ants... if you live near a termite colony you may have noticed them, they land and shed their wings.... and all those wings make a darn mess on your outdoor furniture! After dropping their wings they attract a mate.

Good pictures of the queen, soldiers, alates and workers can be seen here -
http://www.ants.net.au/colony.htm

These flights occur during warm humid weather (usually during spring and autumn), with falling barometric pressure indicating a likelihood of
following rain. The right combination of climatic conditions increases the
chances of success in establishing new colonies in their natural habitat.... as does finding a constant water source if they decide to mate in your house, boat, etc.

We didn't notice any winged termites so it is unlikely that any new colonies will form from those we removed from the boat.

If you're bored and want to play with some termites, go here -
http://www.termite.com/wa/summary.html

[Figjamm]

Report #12

Another session of grinding



And not much to show for it!

[Mad-One]

You guy's are doing a great job and the reports are fantastic and a good source of information for others to share. Keep up the good work

Cheers Phil

[Figjamm]

You guy's are doing a great job and the reports are fantastic and a good source of information for others to share. Keep up the good work

Thanks for your encouragment Phil

[Figjamm]

Report #13

28th January

Ross worked until after lunch, which is very unusual for a Saturday.... I was beginning to think he was avoiding coming home

Today's progress was much the same as the last few days.... another session of grinding, or should that be sanding seems it's actually sanding discs being used on the grinder.... and once again, not much to show for it, but it has to be done.

Ross has had a lot of time to think while he completes this tedious task.... he's been thinking about the research I've done on the colonising flights of termites and what they need to start a new colony.... and he's been thinking back to where Play-Pen was when he first saw her.

She was parked in a driveway with the timber cut out of her transom (outer fiberglass shell still intact).... her floor was holding a good layer of leaves and debris from nearby trees.... possibly the perfect environment for starting a new colony?

[toymod]

me thinks that sounds like a nice castle for a queen

Looks great.......keep up the great work