Termite infestation is a common problem in Australia. According to the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), about 32 percent of all houses in Australia currently have termite activity. That is about 130,000 homes per year, or at least 1 in every 3 houses in the country.
Every home has roughly an 80 percent chance of sitting within 25 metres of a termite colony. You can't count on termite infestation never happening to you, so knowing how to get rid of termites, and how to stop them coming back, matters more than most homeowners realise.
This guide covers the termite species you're likely dealing with, the warning signs to look for, DIY termite control methods that genuinely help, and the professional termite control options worth knowing about before you call anyone out.
Termite Species You're Likely Dealing With
Not all termites behave the same way, and the right control method depends on which one you have.
Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel to their food source through mud tubes. They're the most destructive species in Australia and the reason most termite damage claims exist.
Drywood termites live inside dry timber without any soil contact at all. They're harder to spot because they don't need moisture from the ground, and an infestation can sit inside furniture or roof timber for years before anyone notices.
Dampwood termites prefer moist, decaying wood and are less common in most Australian homes, though they do show up wherever there's ongoing water damage.
You'll hear all three lumped together as "white ants" in everyday conversation. They aren't ants at all, but the name has stuck.
Signs of a Termite Infestation
Hollow sounding timber. Knock on a skirting board or door frame. A hollow thud, or timber that gives way under light pressure from a screwdriver, means termites may already be behind it.
Mud tubes. Subterranean termites build these pencil-width tunnels out of soil and saliva to move between the ground and your home's timber without being exposed to open air.
A faint rustling sound. Put your ear against a wooden wall. What sounds like a faint tapping or rustling can be thousands of termites moving and feeding just behind the surface.
Discarded wings. Small, uniform wings scattered near windowsills or doors mean a swarm has already happened and a new colony has likely started somewhere close by.
Bubbling or cracked paint. Moisture from termite activity behind a wall can cause paint to bubble, crack, or peel, particularly in spots that have had water damage before.
Frass. These small, granular droppings collect near door frames, baseboards, and windowsills as termites feed and tunnel through timber.
Visible termites. Swarming termites (alates) around outdoor lights at dusk, especially after rain, are a direct sign a nearby colony is expanding.
If you can't find where they're hiding, that's exactly what a professional inspection is for. We've covered when one is actually worth booking in Is Termite Inspection Necessary?
If you only want the short version of the signs above, they're covered in 3 Signs You Might Have Termites in Your Home.
What Attracts Termites to Your Home
Termites travel underground and need three things: moisture, a food source, and a way in.
- Moisture from leaking taps, blocked gutters, or poor drainage around the foundation
- Wood-to-ground contact, including garden beds against the slab, timber sleepers, old stumps, or deck posts sitting directly on soil
- Mulch banked up against the house, especially untreated mulch near subfloor vents or weep holes
- Wood debris, firewood, or cardboard boxes stored against exterior walls, since cardboard is cellulose and termites will eat it as readily as timber
Removing any one of these doesn't guarantee termites will stay away, but leaving all of them in place is close to an invitation. And your framing timber itself isn't automatically safe either. See Do Termites Eat Hardwood? and Do Termites Eat Treated Pine? for how much protection your home's actual timber gives you.
DIY Termite Control: What Actually Helps
These home remedies can knock back isolated activity, but none of them reliably reach a colony that's already established inside your walls or subfloor.
- Cardboard trap. Dampen a piece of cardboard and bait it with decayed wood, since termites are drawn to cellulose. Once they swarm to it, you can destroy it or treat it directly.
- Neem oil. Mix two cups of water with a few drops of dish soap and around 10 drops of neem oil, then spray it directly onto termite activity. It's believed to disrupt moulting and egg laying, and act as a natural repellent.
- Diatomaceous earth. This fine silica powder damages a termite's exoskeleton and dehydrates it on contact. It takes repeated exposure to work and isn't a fast fix, but it's a reasonable natural alternative for small, visible activity.
- Beneficial nematodes. These microscopic parasites infect termites and release bacteria that kill them from within over the following days. Effective against isolated activity, not a hidden colony.
- Boric acid. Widely available at hardware stores, but it needs to be applied correctly to work. If you're not confident with the application, it's worth connecting with a termite technician rather than guessing.
- Sunlight and heat. For infested furniture or small timber items you can move outside, direct sun exposure can dry out and kill drywood termites over time. It only works on items you can physically relocate.
If you've already found mud tubes, frass, or hollow timber, treat that as your signal that DIY termite control alone won't eliminate the problem. At that point you're looking at removing termites from an active structure, not repelling stray activity.
Professional Termite Control Methods
Chemical (liquid) termiticide barriers. A technician trenches around the perimeter of the structure and applies a liquid termiticide to create a continuous chemical barrier. Termites that cross it carry the chemical back to the colony, which is how one barrier can affect an entire population over time.
Physical barriers. Usually installed during construction, these use materials like stainless steel mesh or graded granite that termites physically cannot tunnel through.
Bait stations. Bait systems are installed in the ground around the property and checked periodically. Once activity is detected, the bait is swapped for a slow-acting toxin that worker termites carry back to the colony, gradually reducing the termite population at the source.
Targeted treatments. For termites already active inside a structure, a technician can inject termiticide directly into infested timber or wall voids rather than treating the whole perimeter.
Licensed technicians use equipment and application methods that go beyond what's available in a hardware store, and they can confirm a colony has actually been eliminated rather than just pushed back temporarily. That confirmation is the main thing DIY methods can't give you.
Preventing Future Termite Infestations
- Keep slab edges and weep holes clear, with at least 75mm of exposed clearance from the ground so both technicians and termites' access points stay visible
- Fix leaks and improve drainage around the foundation
- Pull mulch and garden beds back from the slab edge, and avoid stacking firewood or cardboard against exterior walls
- Make sure subfloor ventilation isn't blocked
- Remove any wood-to-ground contact where you can
- For new builds or renovations, termite resistant materials like steel framing reduce long-term risk
- Book regular inspections, since early detection is what keeps a termite problem small instead of structural
Why Catching It Early Matters
Termite damage that's gone unnoticed for years can run into the tens of thousands of dollars to repair, and by the time skirting boards or door frames start failing, you're already looking at genuine structural damage rather than a surface problem. Routine inspections are the cheapest part of this entire process compared to what happens if an infestation is left to spread.
Are you suspecting you have termites in your home? If you can't determine where they might be hiding, don't hesitate to contact The Local Guys. We have certified and licensed termite specialists who can help identify whether your property has been infested with termites. Call us now to book a schedule.
What Services Do We Offer?
Our termite treatment teams are available across Australia. Find your local team:
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Our team works to hand your home back to you so you can get on with your life without disruption, which is exactly what makes The Local Guys Pest Control the best in the game.
The Local Guys Pest Control offers pest management services and specialises in comprehensive pest control solutions, including thorough inspections, advice on preventive measures, treatment plans tailored to your needs, and extermination services for various pests. Reach out to The Local Guys Pest Control for more details.
Disclaimer: The information presented on this webpage provides general knowledge about pests and potential treatments. It is not meant to serve as medical advice. In a medical emergency, dial 000 promptly and follow the guidance provided.
