The Hills District sits on what used to be orchard and bushland. Castle Hill still has approximately 25 percent tree canopy coverage across the suburb. That greenery makes the area attractive to live in, but it also creates ideal habitat for termites, rodents, and spiders.
Three termite species cause most of the damage in Castle Hill: Coptotermes Acinaciformis, Nasutitermes, and Schedorhinotermes Intermedius. Coptotermes are the most destructive. They build underground colonies that can contain over a million individuals and travel up to 100 metres from the nest to reach timber in your home. The mature eucalypts throughout Kellyville, Beaumont Hills, and Bella Vista provide perfect nesting sites.
Rodent activity increases between April and August when temperatures drop. Roof rats travel along fence lines and power cables from the bushland edges into ceiling spaces. We see consistent call-outs from homes near Castle Hill Heritage Park, the showground precinct, and streets bordering the M2 corridor where vegetation provides cover.
