Two Types, Very Different Problems
Not all termites are the same, and misidentifying the species in your home can lead to ineffective treatment. In Sydney and across NSW, two main types of termites are responsible for most structural damage: subterranean termites and drywood termites. Understanding the differences is the first step to effective control.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are by far the most destructive and most common termites in Sydney. Species including Coptotermes acinaciformis and Nasutitermes exitiosus are responsible for the vast majority of termite damage in Australian homes.
Key characteristics:
- Live in underground colonies that can contain hundreds of thousands of workers
- Require contact with soil and moisture to survive
- Build mud tubes to travel above ground and access timber
- Attack from below, entering homes through cracks in foundations, weep holes and plumbing penetrations
- Can travel up to 100 metres from their nest to reach food sources
Damage pattern:
Subterranean termites eat along the grain of the wood, hollowing it out from the inside. They leave a thin outer shell intact and pack galleries with soil and faecal matter.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are less common in Sydney but can still cause significant damage. Unlike their subterranean cousins, they don’t need soil contact and can infest dry timber directly.
Key characteristics:
- Smaller colonies (typically a few thousand individuals)
- No soil contact needed — they live entirely within the timber they infest
- Produce distinctive frass (dry, hexagonal pellets) that they push out of small kick-out holes
- Often introduced into homes through infested furniture, timber or building materials
Damage pattern:
Drywood termites create smooth, clean galleries across the grain of timber and are often found in roof timbers, window frames and furniture.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Subterranean | Drywood |
|---|---|---|
| Colony size | Up to 1 million | Up to 5,000 |
| Soil contact needed | Yes | No |
| Mud tubes present | Yes | No |
| Frass produced | No (packed into galleries) | Yes (dry pellets) |
| Speed of damage | Very fast | Slow |
| Common in Sydney | Very common | Less common |
How Are They Treated Differently?
Subterranean termites are treated with soil-applied liquid termiticide barriers around the perimeter of the property, in-ground baiting systems, or a combination of both. The goal is to either kill the foraging workers or collapse the entire colony.
Drywood termites can be treated with localised timber injection using registered termiticides, fumigation (for severe infestations), or heat treatment of affected items. Because they live entirely within the timber, colony elimination is the target.
Which Type Do You Have?
Correct identification requires a professional inspection. Visual clues like mud tubes, frass, and damage patterns can help narrow it down, but a licensed pest controller will conduct a thorough assessment and recommend the right treatment.
Pestyologist services Sydney and surrounding suburbs. Contact us to book an inspection today.