What Should You Do If You Find Live Termites?

Discovering live termites in or around your home can be alarming—but the way you respond matters.

Your first instinct may be to spray them, break open the damaged timber or remove the affected material. However, disturbing termites can cause them to retreat deeper into the structure or relocate to another area, making the colony more difficult to locate and treat.

Leave the Area Undisturbed

Avoid touching the termites, mud leads or damaged timber. Do not spray household insecticide, pour chemicals into the area or remove any affected materials.

Where possible, carefully replace anything you have moved and leave the site exactly as you found it.

Take Photos

Without disturbing the activity, take clear photographs or videos of the termites and surrounding area. This can help a pest management professional understand what you have found before attending the property.

Make a note of the exact location, including whether the termites were found inside the home, beneath the building, in a garden bed, fence, tree stump or other timber structure.

Contact a Termite Professional

Arrange a professional termite inspection as soon as possible. Finding termites in one location does not necessarily reveal the full extent of the activity.

A qualified technician will inspect accessible areas of the property, looking for termite entry points, moisture issues, damaged timber and other signs of activity.

Specialist equipment may also be used to investigate areas that cannot be easily seen.

Don’t Assume the Problem Is Localised

Termites can travel concealed through soil, wall cavities and timber. The visible activity may only represent a small part of a much larger problem.

Once the inspection is complete, your technician can recommend an appropriate treatment and ongoing protection plan.

Finding termites does not automatically mean your home is beyond repair—but acting quickly, calmly and professionally gives you the best chance of limiting further damage.

Contact us on (02) 6852 1845.