It is essential for your termite control professional to properly identify the species of termite found in your property. Some species of termites found in trees, for example, will not attack dry seasoned timbers in a building, whilst others can be are highly destructive to such buildings in a short amount of time.
 Coptotermes acinaciformis
Commonly found throughout Queensland particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum trees are highly prevalent.
Nest location - Coptotermes acinaciformis are a very secretive termite species; they build their nest out of sight, often within the base of eucalyptus or other susceptible trees, or completely under the ground; often within an enclosed patio or under concrete (on ground) flooring which is ideal for moisture retention, temperature and humidity control within the termite colony nest. This species often build subsidiary nests away from the main colony nest. A subsidiary nest can be contained in a wall cavity of a building where there is a reliable moisture source, for example, from a leaking shower recess or faulty guttering or rusted down pipes.
HIGHLY destructive nature - Coptotermes acinaciformis are highly destructive to buildings and other timber structures. They are the most widely distributed and destructive timber pest in Australia. A single colony may consist of more than one million termites. A most voracious timber pest ... one to be taken seriously.
Schedorhinotermes intermedius
Commonly found in south east Queensland, a major termite species in the Brisbane and coastal region extending up to the Bundaberg region.
Nest location - Schedorhinotermes intermedius commonly build their nest in tree stumps; in the root crown of the living, dead and debilitated trees; under houses or within enclosed patios or other areas where timber has been buried or stored in contact with the soil.
Identification - Schedorhinotermes intermedius species tend
to "gouge" the affected timber and has a fetish around nails used in construction. When you first find them, you will often see a major soldier (6mm in length) and a minor soldier (4mm in length).
HIGHLY destructive nature - Schedorhinotermes intermedius are highly destructive to buildings and other timber structures. If mostly major (larger) soldiers are sighted, then they will most likely be a large colony with the potential to cause severe and rapid damage to structural timbers of a building or other timber structures.
Nasutitermes exitiosus
Commonly found in southern Queensland particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum trees are highly prevalent.
Nest location - Nasutitermes exitiosus build a mound nest which protrudes 30cm to 75cm above the ground. Control can be as easy as knocking the top off the nest and a follow up insecticide treatment inside the nest.
Destructive nature - Nasutitermes exitiosus are destructive to buildings and other timber structures. Sometimes severe damage may occur, but not so commonly as the other species listed above.
Coptotermes lacteus
Commonly found in south east Queensland, a major termite species in the Brisbane and coastal region extending to the Rockhampton region.
Nest location - Coptotermes lacteus most will often build their nest as a mound up to 2 metres above ground level, with hard clay walls.
Destructive nature - Coptotermes lacteus attacks stumps, dead trees, timber fences, poles and other timber structures that are in contact with the soil, being softened by weathering or decay. These termites are also known to attack such timber in damp sub-floor areas.
Nasutitermes walkeri
Commonly found along eastern Queensland particularly prevalent in coastal and mountain areas from the Cairns region down to the Queensland NSW border.
Nest location - Nasutitermes walkeri build their nest in trees on the main trunk or in the fork of a large branch.
Destructive nature - Nasutitermes walkeri can be destructive to damp timbers often a serious problem where the sub-floor of a building is damp and ventilation is poor with resulting wood decay or fungal growth.
Heterotermes ferox
Commonly found in southeastern Queensland - particularly in urban areas or where eucalypt gum
trees are highly prevalent.
Nest Location - Heterotermes ferox often build their colony nest next to stumps, logs, or other timber in direct contact with the soil where some wood decay or rotting is prevalent.
Destructive Nature - Heterotermes ferox are be destructive to damp timbers and are usually found attacking fences, poles and other timber structures subject to wood decay from weathering or from being in contact with the soil. This species is often confused with the more aggressive and destructive Coptotermes acinaciformis species. Correct identification is essential.
Mastotermes darwiniensis
Commonly found in tropical Queensland generally north of the tropic of Capricorn.
Nest location Mastotermes darwiniensis build their nest (secretively) totally below the soil surface; or in the trunks and root crowns of trees and stumps. Once a nest is mature (over 100,000 or much higher) they can split off to form other nests over a wide ranging area. These sub nests are formed constantly and can sustain life for along period of time without contact to the original nest.
HIGHLY destructive Nature Mastotermes darwiniensis is one of the worlds most destructive termite species, often causing severe damage to houses, buildings, bridges, posts, poles, and many other plant and animal products. It is also an agricultural pest, responsible for ring-barking and killing living trees, shrubs, fruit, vegetable crops, sugarcane and rubber trees. It is reported to attack rubber tyres on tractors and cause damage to leather, hide, plastic or lead-sheathed cables, bitumen, bagged salt, flour, glass and various metals. Mastotermes darwiniensis is the most ancient of all the termites in the world they
occur only in Queensland a termite to be feared.
Dampwood termites - form small independent nests which often attack sick or dead trees, decaying stumps or mouldy timber in the ground; they are seldom found in dry timbers in buildings.
Drywood termites - occur mostly in tropical areas, where the atmospheric humidity is constantly above 75 percent. The introduced and highly destructive West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes
brevis, is rarely located, most recently in Brisbane and Maryborough. Specialist eradication procedures involve wrapping the entire building in plastic and using methyl bromide fumigation.
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