Jets Pest Control · Termite Signs Guide
Spot the signs before they spread.
The eight warning signs of termites every Brisbane and Ipswich homeowner should know — and the one mistake that makes an infestation worse.
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The eight signs of termites in your home
Termites are called the silent destroyers for a reason: by the time most homeowners see any evidence, the colony has usually been feeding for months. The signs to watch for are mud tubes on walls or foundations, hollow-sounding timber, doors and windows that suddenly jam, flying termites or discarded wings, bubbling or rippled paint, quiet clicking inside walls, unexplained moisture stains, and damaged timber in the garden or fence line.
Here's what each one actually looks like — and what it's telling you.
What each sign means
1. Mud tubes and shelter tubes
Pencil-width tunnels of dried mud running up foundations, piers, walls or fence posts. Subterranean termites build these to travel between the soil and their food without drying out. This is the most definitive sign there is — termites are actively using that route.
2. Hollow-sounding timber
Termites eat timber from the inside out, leaving a thin outer shell. Tap skirting boards, door frames and architraves with a screwdriver handle — a papery or hollow sound where there should be a solid knock is a red flag.
3. Doors and windows that suddenly stick
As termites eat structural timber, frames distort and floors can sag. Doors and windows that jammed 'overnight' — without a good weather explanation — deserve investigation.
4. Flying termites or discarded wings
On warm, humid evenings — especially before storms — colonies release winged reproductives (alates) to start new nests. A swarm around your lights, or piles of identical shed wings on windowsills, means a mature colony is close by.
5. Bubbling, rippled or papery paint
Termite moisture and workings just beneath the surface make paint bubble or ripple in a way that mimics water damage. If there's no plumbing or roof leak to explain it, suspect termites.
6. Quiet clicking inside walls
Soldier termites bang their heads against tunnel walls to signal danger, and workers are noisy eaters. In a quiet room at night, a faint clicking or rustling inside a wall is worth taking seriously.
7. Unexplained moisture stains
Termites carry moisture into their workings. Dark patches or staining on walls, skirting or cornices with no plumbing cause can indicate activity behind the surface.
8. Damage in the garden and fence line
Mudding on fence posts, damaged retaining walls, hollowed tree stumps and dirt-packed firewood piles are outposts on the way to your house. Outdoor activity means the colony is in your yard — treat it as an early warning, not someone else's problem.
Found termites? Do this — and don't do that
The single worst thing you can do is hit termites with fly spray or break open their workings. Disturbed termites abandon the area and spread deeper into the structure, making treatment harder and more expensive. Instead: leave them alone, cover any opened workings with masking tape, and call a licensed termite specialist. Treatment of what you've found starts from $260.
What you're seeing in Southeast Queensland is almost always a subterranean species. The main culprits locally are Coptotermes acinaciformis (Australia's most destructive), the disturbance-sensitive Schedorhinotermes intermedius, tree-nesting Nasutitermes walkeri, and the lower-risk Microcerotermes turneri. Species determines treatment — another reason not to guess.
Frequently asked questions
What's the most reliable sign of termites?
Mud tubes. Termites build them to move between soil and timber, so an intact tube on a foundation, pier or wall means an active route. Don't break it open — tape over any damage and book an inspection.
I saw flying termites near my house. Does that mean my home is infested?
Not necessarily — but it does mean a mature colony is nearby, and hundreds of new queens are looking for somewhere to establish. It's the right trigger to get an inspection booked, especially if wings are appearing inside.
Can I ignore termite mudding on the back fence?
No. A fence line or stump infestation is an outpost of a colony that will happily keep foraging — your house may be next. Outdoor activity is the cheapest stage to treat, with spot treatments from $260.
How quickly can termites cause serious damage?
A large colony can cause significant structural damage within months. Because they feed hidden and around the clock, the damage bill grows the entire time they go undetected — and home insurance generally won't cover it.
What does a termite inspection cost?
$185 to $385 including GST depending on property size — $285 for a typical 1–4 bedroom house. See our full cost guide for treatment and barrier prices.
Seen one of these signs?
Find out for certain.
A licensed local termite specialist — not a call centre — responds within 2 hours. Inspections to AS 3660.2 with thermal imaging and radar, report emailed overnight, servicing all Ipswich and Brisbane suburbs.
