Found Live Termites: What to Do (Perth Homeowner)

What you found

Termites found in a Perth home are almost always subterranean species. Subterranean termites need contact with soil to survive, building mud galleries and shelter tubes to travel above ground. Soldiers have larger, darker heads than workers and release a white, rubbery glue-like substance when disturbed. Workers are the most numerous caste in the colony.

Hollow galleries inside timber showing termite damage — Termite galleries follow the grain of wood and hollow it from inside. Photo: Umar2z, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Do not disturb them, do not spray

When you find active termites, leave them alone. Disturbing them causes the colony to scatter deeper into the building or to neighbouring properties. Do not spray with supermarket insecticide. Repellent sprays sense the treated area and go around it, finding the one gap the repellent did not reach. Early disturbance often makes the problem worse because it forces the colony to change its foraging route. A professional treatment is designed based on finding live activity while it is still predictable. Once you have spotted termites, that single piece of information is more valuable than any damage you might prevent by trying to treat it yourself.

What happens at a professional inspection

An inspection starts before any treatment is designed. The inspector looks for live activity, damage, shelter tubes, mud leads, and past infestations. Where reasonable safe access is available, they assess the interior, roof void, sub-floor, exterior and grounds, including trees and stumps within the property. If live activity is found but the nest is not located, the inspector will design a system to intercept foragers and prevent them entering the building. A timber pest inspection costs $250 to $350 and includes a written report, photos and recommendations.

Why species, construction and timing matter

Subterranean termites forage via underground galleries. Termite flights are most common in the warm wetter months, either side of winter, usually in the afternoon after recent rains. In Perth, timber-framed homes with suspended floors and sub-floor voids suit different treatment from slab-on-ground brick veneer. Limestone soils in some areas need careful drilling. The construction era matters: different building types need different inspection and treatment approaches.

How professional treatment is designed

Once species is confirmed and construction assessed, the technician quotes the treatment in writing before any work starts. A non-repellent chemical treated zone is created around the perimeter by trenching in garden beds and drilling through paving or concrete. The product is applied and every drill hole and trench is recorded on a site plan. A certificate is issued. Non-repellent termiticides work because foraging termites cannot detect them. The termites pick up the active ingredient while moving through the treated zone and transfer it through the colony via grooming, slowly reducing numbers.

When to call a professional and what happens next

Call the moment you find live termites. An inspection through our termite treatment service costs $250 to $350 and stops the guessing. Text your suburb and what you are seeing to 0468 170 107. Once the inspection is complete and the species confirmed, we provide a written price for the treatment system. You get the price in writing before we book, and the treatment record after the work is done.

Galleries follow the grain of wood, often for metres without openings. Heavily attacked timber is hollowed out, leaving only a paper-thin shell. When tapped, it sounds papery or hollow. Mud plastering along joints and cracks in the timber surface is a sign of termite presence. Old shelter tubes are brittle and cracked; new ones are stronger and less dry, indicating the colony is using them actively. If you see damage but no live activity, it may be old. If you see mud tubes but no damage, the colony may be small but active. The presence of both signals an established infestation and a reason to act quickly. Related reading: What Do Termites Look Like covers identification in more detail, and Termites in My Garden: Is My House at Risk explains how to assess whether garden pests threaten the house.

The re-treatment promise covers breaches during the period on your certificate, provided annual inspections are kept (terms at djpest.com.au/warranty). Chemicals also degrade over time. After treatment, you will receive a certificate and a site plan showing every drill hole and treated zone. Keep this with your insurance and property documents because it documents the management system in place when you owned the home.

What it costs

A timber pest inspection runs $250 to $350. A non-repellent chemical termite management system typically runs $2,500 to $5,500 depending on perimeter length and how much drilling is needed. A baiting system costs $1,500 to $3,000 to install. Typical ranges for a standard home in Perth's northern suburbs, itemised in writing after we have seen it. The cost varies with building construction, perimeter length and access for drilling.

Frequently asked

What should I do if I find live termites?

Do not disturb or spray them. Take a photo and call 0468 170 107 the same day. An inspection will confirm the species, assess the extent and recommend a treatment plan.

Should I spray termites myself?

No. Repellent sprays sense the treated area and termites find gaps to move around it. A professional treatment uses non-repellent actives applied according to the label by a licensed technician.

Can you kill the colony?

A non-repellent treated zone lets foraging termites pick up the active and transfer it through the colony by grooming. Results are strong, but the nest may be a hundred metres away under a neighbour's yard. The system protects the building; annual inspection confirms it is still doing so.

How long does treatment take?

A full perimeter chemical system takes most of a day. You can stay home. Kids and pets stay clear until the re-entry period has passed. Baiting installations take two to three hours.

What is the difference between chemical and baiting?

A non-repellent chemical treated zone gives faster, continuous protection around the perimeter. Baiting suits sites where trenching is impractical or where live activity needs elimination first. The choice depends on construction, access and your preferences, which we write on the quote.

Do I need an inspection before treatment?

Yes. AS 3660.2 requires inspection before a system is designed. We cannot quote a perimeter we have not measured or a construction type we have not seen.

What if I missed a year of annual inspections?

The re-treatment promise lapses until a current inspection is completed. Annual inspections are a condition because treated zones can be breached and chemicals degrade over time.

What if I have trees or stumps on my property?

Trees and stumps are favoured nesting sites. They should be regularly inspected for signs of activity. Successfully treating a termite colony in a nearby tree or stump can stop active termites from damaging the building.

Sources

Termite Treatment Perth, the full service and the investment
Pest management investment ranges in Perth, every service with a typical range
What's my pest?, pick what you saw
All guides