How to know if you have termites: 5 signs every Queensland homeowner should know.

Termites don't send a warning letter. By the time you see them, they've likely been feasting on your home for months, sometimes years.

In South East Queensland, where warm and humid conditions create a termite paradise, knowing the early warning signs isn't just helpful - it's essential. Here are five signs that termites may have already moved in.

1. Mud tubes: the termite superhighway.

Termites are moisture-dependent creatures. They can't survive in dry air for long, which is why they build protective mud tunnels, often called "mud tubes", when travelling between their underground colony and your home.

These tubes are usually found along:

• foundations and exterior walls
• subfloor timbers and piers
• inside garages or storage areas.

What to look for: pencil-thin, dirt-coloured tunnels running vertically or horizontally across surfaces. They may be intact or broken open.

What to do: don't disturb them. Breaking the tube can cause termites to abandon that path and find another hidden route. Instead, call a professional for an inspection. A technician can assess the extent of the activity and recommend treatment.

Why it matters: mud tubes are the closest thing termites have to a visible footprint. If you see one, you're not imagining the problem, it's real.

2. Discarded wings: the swarming season signature.

After a rainstorm, you might notice small piles of translucent wings on window sills, near doors or around light fittings. This is the aftermath of swarming, when winged termites (called alates) leave their existing colony to find a mate and establish a new one.

They shed their wings almost immediately after landing. If you find wings, it means a swarm has landed near your home. Whether they made it inside is the next question.

What to look for: tiny, translucent wings, often in pairs, that are uniform in size and shape. They're easily mistaken for fish scales or dead insects.

What to do: vacuum up the wings and keep them in a sealed bag. A technician can use them to identify the termite species and determine the best course of action.

Why it matters: a swarm doesn't guarantee an infestation, but it's a clear sign that termite colonies are active in your area and looking for new territory.

3. Hollow-sounding or damaged timber.

Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin outer shell intact. By the time you notice damage, the internal structure may already be compromised.

Tap on timber in your home - skirting boards, window frames, door jambs, with a screwdriver handle or the back of a knife. If it sounds hollow or crumbles easily, termites may have been feeding.

What to look for:

• blistered or peeling paint that resembles water damage
• timber that sounds hollow when tapped
• timber that feels soft or crumbles under pressure.

Where to check: areas prone to moisture are prime targets: bathrooms, laundries, external timber touching the ground, and anywhere with poor ventilation.

Why it matters: hollow timber is a sign of established activity. At this stage, the colony has likely been present for some time.

4. Structural shifts: cracks, sticking doors, uneven floors.

As termites consume timber, the structural integrity of your home can shift subtly. You might notice:

• cracks in plasterboard or paint, especially around door frames
• doors or windows that suddenly stick
• floors that feel spongy or uneven

These signs often appear long after the termites have settled in. They're not always visible to the untrained eye, which is why professional inspections are critical.

What to look for: new or expanding cracks, especially in corners or around timber frames. Doors that used to close easily now catching on the frame.

What to do: don't ignore these changes. They could be the result of seasonal movement, or they could be termites.

5. Frass: the drywood termite calling card.

Not all termites build mud tubes. Drywood termites live inside the timber they consume and push their droppings (called frass) out through small holes in the wood.

Frass looks like small, wood-coloured pellets. If you see what appears to be sawdust or coffee grounds accumulating near timber, it's worth investigating.

What to look for: tiny, granular piles that are uniform in size and shape. Unlike sawdust, frass feels hard and doesn't break apart easily.

What to do: collect a sample and contact a professional. Drywood termites require a different treatment approach than subterranean termites.

What to do if you find signs of termites.

First, don't panic. Second, don't spray. Household insecticides will only kill the termites you can see, driving the rest deeper into your walls. This makes the problem harder, not easier to solve.

At Bittn, we do things deliberately differently. Our technicians use advanced technology to find what the eye can't see:

• Thermal imaging to detect heat signatures of termite nests behind walls
• Moisture meters to locate damp zones that attract termites
• Radar detection to map termite galleries hidden in floors and soil

Once we know what we're dealing with, we design a targeted strategy. Our intelligent baiting systems use termites to work for us, carrying bait back to the colony. Deadly for them. Harmless for your family.
This is pest control built for the modern world. Not guesswork. Not hope. Just smarter, safer science.

A termite problem isn’t a waiting game.

A termite infestation left untreated can cost tens of thousands of dollars in structural repairs. Home insurance typically doesn't cover termite damage. The best protection is early detection and professional treatment.

If you've noticed any of the signs above, or if it's been more than 12 months since your last inspection, it's time to take action.

Need a termite inspection? Bittn's technicians use smarter, safer science to find termites before they cause serious damage. Book online in under two minutes or call 1300 438 248.