In Brisbane, termites can cause significant damage in as little as 6 months. So, even if you have a professional termite inspection once a year (and you should!), it’s important to know the signs of termite activity, in case a problem arises in between one termite inspection and the next.
Spotting termite activity can be difficult as they often remain hidden until significant damage is done. However, here are the common signs of termites that homeowners can spot without using any specialist equipment.
Obvious signs of termite activity:
Seeing Worker Termites
Termites tend to be quite secretive, but you may see termites in the yard in wood mulch and other food sources when gardening. Termite workers (“white ants”) are pretty distinctive. If you spot worker termites in your yard, there is a nest nearby and your home is under threat.
Flying termites or discarded wings
Flying termites (alates) are the new kings and queens that swarm in great numbers on humid nights in spring and summer. If you spot these alates ,you definitely have a large nest nearby. Sometimes you may not see the flying termites but may see piles of discarded wings on the ground when you get up in the morning.
Termite mud tubes
Termite mud tubes are the shelter tubes that termites build from the ground to a feeding site to protect themselves from drying out and from predators. Sometimes the mudding can appear as sheets over wood to protect them when feeding and sometimes as spots on walls, where they have broken through the surface material on the wall where they are feeding underneath.
Termite droppings
The main pest termites in Brisbane (subterranean termites) do not produce obvious termite droppings (frass). However, in Brisbane we do have drywood termites which can cause significant damage and are difficult and expensive to control. Drywood termites produce piles of small hexagonal droppings. If you spot these, contact us immediately.
Damaged timber
If you spot damaged or crumbling timber, you know you have significant termite damage. Typically, termite damage is difficult to spot as they eat the wood from the inside out, leaving a thing veneer of wood on the outside. “Eaten out” timber will collapse or crumble. Partially eaten out timber may be spongy or have a hollow or dull sound when you tab on it.
A few less obvious signs of termite activity:
Bubbling paint or surface imperfections
When termites are activity behind walls or in painted timber they can cause imperfections on the surface – rippled paint or dents in the paper on plasterboard.
Sagging floors and ceilings
As termites start to eat through and damage structural timbers, they start to lose their strength and integrity. Floor and ceilings may start to sag, and floorboard may feel a little spongy when walking on them.
Sticking doors and windows
In a similar way, when termites get into window and door frames they start to lose their integrity. Even if they start to sag a couple of millimetres, the doors and windows can become hard to open and close… so don’t ignore sticking doors and windows!
The sound of termite activity…
Termites headbanging!
There is one last sign of termite activity, but this is really a sound of termite activity. If you place your ear against the surface of an active infestation you can sometime hear a tapping noise. This is the sound of termites “headbanging” as they communicate.
It’s important to look of the signs of termites in and around your yard as well as in (and under) your house. If termites are active in the yard, your house could be next!
If you think you’ve spotted potential termite activity, don’t be tempted to dig or break open any surfaces. This can often frighten the termites away from the area, making them harder to detect and treat. The best action is to give us a call at MAD ANT Termite & Pest Control, and we’ll come to carry out a comprehensive termite inspection.
