You often hear termites called “silent destroyers.” It’s a terrifying nickname, but it’s accurate. In Brisbane, subterranean termites can chew through the structural timber of a home for months—or even years—before you notice a thing.
However, they do leave clues if you know where to look. Here are the top 5 warning signs our technicians look for in Brisbane homes.
1. Mud Tubes on Foundations Termites need moisture to survive. To travel safely from the soil into your home, they build “mud tubes”—small, brown tunnels made of dirt and saliva. Look for these running up the side of your concrete slab, over brickwork, or on stump caps in high-set homes.
2. Hollow Sounding Timber Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of paint or timber on the surface. If you tap on your skirting boards, door frames, or window sills and it sounds “papery” or hollow, you may have significant damage behind the scenes.
3. Tight Fitting Doors or Windows Is your bathroom window suddenly hard to open? Is the front door sticking? While this can be caused by humidity, it is also a classic sign of termite activity. As termites eat, they produce moisture, causing timber frames to swell and jam.
4. “Frass” (Termite Droppings) Drywood termites (less common than subterranean but still present in QLD) push their droppings out of small kick-out holes. It looks like small piles of salt, pepper, or sawdust near the wall.
5. Clicking Noises in the Wall Believe it or not, if you have a heavy infestation, you can hear them. Soldier termites bang their heads against the wood to signal danger to the colony. It sounds like a quiet, rhythmic clicking.
The “Can’t Miss” Sign: Flying Termites (Alates) If you see hundreds of flying insects swarming around your lights or find piles of discarded wings on your windowsill, this is a Termite Swarm. It means a large colony is nearby and looking to expand. This is an immediate red flag.
Don’t Guess. Get Checked. If you spot any of these signs, do not disturb them (and don’t spray them with Mortein—it just scares them deeper into the house). Call McKenna Pest Control immediately on 07 3376 1377 for a thermal inspection.
