Pest Guide
Termites
Termites are wood-feeding insects that live in organised colonies and can cause significant damage when they gain access to buildings and other timber structures. Because termite activity is often concealed within timber, walls or underground, an infestation may remain unnoticed for some time. Suspected termite activity should be professionally assessed before the area is disturbed.
Common signs include:
- Mud or shelter tubes around foundations, walls or timber
- Timber that sounds hollow when tapped
- Damaged or weakened timber
- Changes to timber surfaces, skirting boards or door frames
- Winged termites or discarded wings
- Termite activity discovered in gardens, timber or around the property
- Doors or windows becoming difficult to open where timber has been affected
- Visible termites when damaged timber or concealed areas are exposed
Where Do Termites Hide?
Termites generally remain within protected environments that help maintain the conditions their colony requires. Depending on the species and property, activity may occur:
- Underground and within soil
- Inside structural timber
- Behind walls and wall linings
- Beneath floors
- Around foundations
- Within roof or subfloor timbers
- In tree stumps and timber around the property
- Around areas where timber is in contact with or close to soil
What Can Increase the Risk of Termite Activity?
Several conditions around a property can make termite access or activity more likely. These can include:
- Timber in direct contact with soil
- Excess moisture around or beneath the building
- Leaking pipes, taps or drainage problems
- Poor ventilation in damp areas
- Timber, firewood or building materials stored against the property
- Tree stumps and buried timber
- Areas that conceal potential termite entry points
- Damage or disruption to existing termite management systems
How Can You Reduce the Risk of Termites?
- Avoid storing timber and firewood directly against the building
- Address leaking pipes and excess moisture
- Keep drainage around the property functioning properly
- Avoid unnecessary timber-to-soil contact
- Keep areas around the building accessible for inspection where practical
- Avoid covering or obstructing termite inspection zones
- Arrange professional termite inspections at appropriate intervals
- Have suspected termite activity assessed before disturbing the affected area
When Is Professional Treatment Needed?
If you discover or suspect termite activity, avoid disturbing the termites or attempting to treat the area yourself. Disturbing an active area can make it more difficult to properly assess the extent and location of the activity.
A professional termite inspection can help determine whether termites are present, identify areas of concern and establish an appropriate management approach for the property.
Termite management is different from general household pest control and may involve specialised inspection, treatment and ongoing monitoring depending on the property and the findings.
