Brisbane & Sunshine Coast Pest Control Specialists 0422 334 204

Found Termites? Here's What to Do Next

Finding termites is unsettling, but it's manageable. The most important thing right now is to leave the area undisturbed and give us a call and we'll walk you through the next steps.

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Brisbane & Sunshine Coast. Leave a message and we'll call you back

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What termite activity looks like

Real photos from actual jobs. These are the signs we look for during every inspection.

Termite mud staining at door frame — interior breach point

Mud staining at a door frame — termites breaching through internal wall

Live termite colony found in timber in contact with soil

Active workers and soldiers — timber in contact with soil near fence line

Termite mud tube running up brick wall at slab level

Shelter tube up a brick wall — subterranean termites travelling from soil into the structure

Three things to avoid before we inspect

These are the most common mistakes that make termite treatment more difficult and more expensive. All three are easy to avoid.

Do not spray them with surface spray or any over the counter insecticide
If you've already sprayed, don't panic — just let us know when you call. It does make things a bit more complex, but it's manageable. Going forward, leave the area alone and don't apply anything else.
Do not disturb the workings, galleries, or mud tunnels
Leave the mud tunnels and galleries exactly as you found them. Disturbing them can cause the colony to retreat, which makes it harder for us to locate and treat effectively.
Do not seal the area or apply any product to block their entry
Sealing or blocking the area won't get rid of them — it just redirects them elsewhere. Leave it as is and let us assess it properly.
Do not wait several days before calling
An active subterranean termite colony can consume significant structural timber in days during peak activity. The longer you wait, the more damage accumulates and the harder it is to treat effectively.
While you wait for us

What to do right now

There are four constructive actions you can take while waiting for an inspection. Everything else should wait until we've assessed the situation.

1

Leave the area undisturbed

Don't touch the mud tunnels, galleries, or any visible workings. The less disruption before we arrive, the better our chances of locating and treating the colony effectively.

2

Keep the area clear

Keep family and pets away from the affected area. Not for safety reasons — termites aren't dangerous to people or animals — but foot traffic and vibration near active workings can cause the colony to retreat.

3

Call us

The sooner we can get out there, the more options we have for treatment. We'll book you in as quickly as possible and walk you through what to expect.

Active termite mudding and frass at skirting board — interior breach point

We book inspections as soon as possible

0422 334 204

Brisbane & Sunshine Coast

Why this matters

Why spraying makes the situation significantly worse

It's one of the most common things we see, and it's worth understanding why it causes problems.

Subterranean termites respond to repellent chemicals by retreating. When workers detect a repellent spray, the colony moves away from the exposed area — deeper into the wall, under the slab, or into another part of the structure. The active trail disappears.

That active trail is what we use to target treatment effectively. When it's gone, we're working with less information. It doesn't mean treatment is impossible — it just means it takes more time and effort to locate the colony again.

If this has already happened, just let us know when you call. We've dealt with it plenty of times and we'll work with whatever we find on site.

The alternative: A non repellent product like Termidor, applied correctly by a licensed operator directly to the active trail, is transferred through normal colony contact back to the main colony and eliminates it at the source without any disturbance.

After spraying with surface spray

  • —Colony retreats from the treated area
  • —Active trail harder to locate — treatment takes more effort
  • —Colony may move to another part of the structure
  • —Treatment is more complex but still very much achievable
  • —Always let us know what products have been applied

If you call us first (no disturbance)

  • +Active trail intact — species identified, extent mapped
  • +Non repellent treatment applied directly to active trail
  • +Transfer Effect carries product through full colony
  • +Colony elimination achievable in days, not weeks
  • +Subsequent barrier installation covers a single identified infestation
Our response

What happens when we arrive

From the moment you call to colony elimination: here's the sequence.

Inspection & Assessment

We'll get out to the property as soon as we can. Thermal imaging, moisture metering, and sounding stick are used to map the full extent of activity before any treatment decision is made.

Species Identification

We identify the termite species on site. Coptotermes acinaciformis is the most structurally destructive species in SEQ. Nasutitermes and Schedorhinotermes are also common. Treatment approach differs by species and colony size.

Treatment & Barrier Plan

We walk you through the recommended treatment approach: typically a targeted non repellent treatment to the active colony, followed by a Termidor perimeter barrier to prevent reinfestation. You get a written quote before anything proceeds.

Know what you're dealing with

Common termite species in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast

Not all termites cause the same level of structural risk. Identifying the species on site informs the urgency and type of treatment required.

Most destructive

Subterranean Termite

Coptotermes acinaciformis

The most structurally destructive termite species in Australia and the most common in SEQ. Colonies can exceed one million workers. They construct hidden galleries inside timber, including floors, walls, and roof framing, consuming cellulose while leaving the surface intact. Immediate treatment is required.

Common in SEQ

Schedorhinotermes

Schedorhinotermes intermedius

Highly aggressive and capable of significant structural damage. Characterised by distinctive large headed soldiers alongside small headed soldiers in the same colony. Often found in stumps, posts, and wall framing. Requires the same urgency of treatment as Coptotermes.

Less destructive

Nasutitermes

Nasutitermes walkeri & N. exitiosus

Typically attacks dead or decaying timber rather than sound structural timber. Characterised by distinctive grey brown mud galleries on external surfaces. Still requires inspection and treatment, but structural risk to sound structural timber is lower than Coptotermes infestations.

Large colony

Giant Northern Termite

Mastotermes darwiniensis

Not common in Brisbane metro but present in peri urban and rural areas. The most primitive and destructive termite in Australia. Attacks virtually any cellulose containing material including plastics and rubber. If identified, treat immediately. This is a high priority species.

Next Steps After Treatment

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