Emergency Termite Response: What to Do If You Find Active Termites

You pull back a piece of skirting board. Or you poke at a soft patch of timber near the shower. And there they are — pale, writhing insects swarming through the wood. Your stomach drops. Your first instinct is to grab the fly spray, call a family member, or start pulling things apart to see how bad it is.

Stop. Put the spray can down. Step back.

What you do in the next few minutes matters more than you might think. An emergency termite response handled correctly gives a professional pest controller the best possible chance of eliminating the colony. Handled badly — even with the best intentions — it can scatter the colony deeper into your home's structure and make treatment significantly harder.

This guide walks you through exactly what to do (and what not to do) from the moment you find active termites through to treatment and long-term protection. Mick at Radar Pest Control has handled hundreds of these situations across the Sunshine Coast over 10+ years — here's what he tells every homeowner who calls in a panic.

Step 1: Do Not Disturb the Termites

This is the most important instruction, and it runs counter to every natural instinct. When you find termites, your brain says: spray them, brush them away, block the hole, or tear out the timber to see the full extent of the damage.

All of these responses make the situation worse. Here's why.

Subterranean termites — the species responsible for the vast majority of structural damage in Queensland — operate as a highly coordinated superorganism. The workers you see are a tiny fraction of a colony that may contain 200,000 to over one million individuals. When part of the colony is disturbed, the rest of the network receives an alarm signal almost instantly. They seal off the compromised section and redirect their activity — deeper into your walls, under your slab, or into another part of the structure.

Spraying household insecticides is particularly damaging. It kills a few hundred workers while alerting the entire colony. Worse, it leaves chemical residues that can interfere with professional-grade treatment products. If you spray before a licensed pest controller arrives, you may have destroyed the best treatment window you had.

What not to do:

• Do not spray with insecticides, fly spray, or any household chemical
• Do not poke or prod the affected timber
• Do not remove or pull apart the damaged area
• Do not block off mud tubes or seal entry points
• Do not turn off the lights or drastically change the environment (termites retreat from light and disturbance)
• Do not attempt to relocate furniture or belongings from the room — movement vibrations disturb the colony

Step 2: Document What You've Found

Before you make any calls, take 60 seconds to document the situation. This information helps a pest controller prioritise the inspection and arrive prepared.

• Take photos and video — photograph the live insects, any mud tubes, damaged timber, and the surrounding area. A short video showing the movement is very helpful.
• Note the exact location — which room, which wall, which piece of timber. Are they near a water source? Adjacent to the exterior wall? In a subfloor?
• Note when you found them — termites are more active at different times of day and in different weather conditions. This context can help with treatment decisions.
• Check immediately adjacent areas — without disturbing anything, look at the surrounding 1–2 metres for mud tubes, hollow-sounding timber (tap gently with a knuckle), or any other signs of activity.

If you're unsure whether what you've found is actually termites, photograph them and send the image to Mick before booking. Termites (white ants) are pale cream to white with a straight waist and straight antennae — regular ants have a pinched waist and elbowed antennae. When in doubt, treat it as termites until proven otherwise.

Step 3: Call a Licensed Pest Controller — Today

This is not a situation where you wait until the weekend is over, compare quotes online, or try a few DIY options first. Every hour that passes with an active colony feeding is additional damage to your home.

Radar Pest Control offers same-day or next-day emergency inspections across the Sunshine Coast. Call 0401 166 155 — Mick answers directly, no call centres. Because it's owner-operated, the person you speak to is the person who will attend your property. Morning calls typically get same-day bookings.

When you call, have your photos ready and be prepared to describe:

• Where the termites are located
• Whether you've seen mud tubes or just the insects themselves
• Whether the timber feels soft or hollow
• Whether your home has an existing termite barrier or monitoring system
• When the last professional inspection was carried out

Homeowners in Buderim, Nambour, Maroochydore, Bli Bli, and Coolum Beach are all within Radar's core service area. If you're in Buderim or the surrounding hinterland, Buderim pest control from a licensed local inspector is far faster and more accountable than a national chain sending a different technician each time.

What Happens During an Emergency Termite Inspection

Understanding what to expect from the inspection helps reduce anxiety — and ensures you're prepared for the house access required.

A termite inspection conducted under Australian Standard AS3660 covers all accessible areas of the property: the subfloor (if applicable), roof void, all interior rooms, the exterior perimeter, fencing, and any timber structures on the property. It is not a quick look at the spot where you found the termites. It is a methodical assessment of the entire property to determine the extent of the infestation, where the colony is likely entering, and what other areas may be at risk.

Radar uses the Termatrac T3i radar-based detection device as part of every inspection. This technology emits a low-level radar signal that can detect the movement of termites behind walls, under floors, and inside timber — without cutting, drilling, or disturbing a single surface. It is one of the most powerful tools available to a pest controller for mapping termite activity in hidden cavities, and it is the reason that a professional inspection finds far more than a homeowner could ever identify themselves.

A standard residential inspection takes 60 to 90 minutes. At the conclusion, you receive a written report detailing:

• Confirmed locations of termite activity
• Extent of visible damage
• Suspected entry points and risk areas
• Recommended treatment options with estimated costs
• Long-term protection recommendations

For a full breakdown of what a termite inspection covers and what to expect on the day, see Radar's termite inspection page.

Treatment Options After Active Termites Are Confirmed

Once the inspection is complete and the extent of activity is mapped, treatment begins. The method depends on where the colony is, how accessible it is, and what existing protection the property has in place.

The most common approach for an active infestation is targeted treatment directly to the termites present — typically using a slow-acting product that the workers carry back to the colony, eventually reaching the queen. This colony-elimination approach is far more effective than contact sprays that kill only the workers in sight. It takes patience — sometimes two to six weeks — but eliminates the source rather than just the symptom.

For comprehensive detail on treatment methods, visit the termite control page — it covers the full range of options Radar uses, from targeted baiting through to full chemical soil treatment for established infestations.

After the active colony is dealt with, the conversation shifts to long-term protection. Treating an active infestation eliminates the immediate threat — it does not prevent future attack. Queensland's subtropical climate means termite pressure is year-round, and a home that has been attacked once is often targeted again from a different entry point.

Long-term options include:

• Chemical termite barrier — a treated soil zone around the perimeter and under the slab that termites cannot pass through. Cost range: $3,000–$4,500 for a standard residential property on the Sunshine Coast, depending on site conditions and perimeter length.
• Termite monitoring and baiting system — in-ground bait stations placed at regular intervals around the property that intercept foraging termites and eliminate colonies before they reach the structure.
• Annual inspections — required under AS3660 to maintain the integrity of any termite management system and to detect new activity early.

What About Insurance? The Answer Most Homeowners Don't Want to Hear

One of the first questions Mick gets after confirming active termite damage is: "Will my insurance cover this?"

In almost every case: no.

Standard home and contents insurance policies in Australia explicitly exclude termite damage. Insurers classify termite infestation as a gradual, preventable event — not an insurable sudden occurrence. This exclusion applies regardless of how long the termites were present or whether you had any prior knowledge. Even comprehensive building insurance policies that cover storm damage, fire, and accidental damage draw a hard line at pest infestation.

It is worth checking your policy wording, particularly if you have a newer "comprehensive" policy — some offer limited cover for specific circumstances. But for the vast majority of Australian homeowners, termite damage repair comes entirely out of pocket.

This is the most compelling argument for annual termite inspections and an active barrier system. The cost of an inspection ($280) and a chemical barrier ($3,000–$4,500 installed) is a fraction of the average cost of repairing termite-damaged structural timbers — which routinely runs to tens of thousands of dollars in Queensland homes.

Why Sunshine Coast Homes Are Particularly Vulnerable

Queensland's subtropical climate creates near-perfect conditions for subterranean termites year-round. The Sunshine Coast — with its warm temperatures, high humidity, and significant rainfall — sits in one of Australia's highest termite-risk zones. CSIRO research suggests that up to one in three Queensland homes will experience termite attack at some point.

The most common species causing structural damage on the Sunshine Coast is Coptotermes acinaciformis — the most destructive termite species in Australia. Colonies of this species can reach over one million workers and maintain multiple entry points into a structure simultaneously. They are particularly active after rain, during the warmer months from September through March, and around any moisture-affected timber.

Homes in elevated areas like Buderim, with their mix of older timber construction and dense bushland surroundings, face higher termite pressure than coastal units. But no property type is immune — termites have been found in rendered brick homes, modern concrete-slab constructions, and steel-framed buildings where timber subfloor elements or landscaping timbers provided an entry bridge.

If you are considering ongoing protection, Radar's post on termite reticulation systems explains how modern barrier technology works and what's suited to different property types on the Sunshine Coast.

How Much Does an Emergency Termite Inspection Cost?

Radar Pest Control charges $280 for a full residential termite inspection, whether it's a scheduled annual visit or an emergency same-day call. There is no premium for urgency — Mick understands that finding termites is stressful enough without adding a callout surcharge.

The inspection fee covers the full AS3660-compliant assessment, Termatrac T3i detection across suspect areas, and a written report with treatment recommendations. Treatment costs are quoted separately, based on what the inspection finds.

For full pricing details across all Radar services, the Radar price guide is the most up-to-date reference.

Frequently Asked Questions: Emergency Termite Response