⚡ TL;DR: Quick Summary
- Mud tubes are the clearest early sign: pencil-width soil tunnels on slabs, brickwork, skirting boards or pipes point to active subterranean termites.
- Other early warnings: hollow-sounding or soft timber, sticking doors, bubbling paint with pinholes, mud around power points and discarded wings.
- Perth’s main culprits are subterranean termites, including Coptotermes acinaciformis and Schedorhinotermes intermedius, which can reach brick and slab homes through tiny gaps.
- Never disturb or spray termites you find: it can drive them elsewhere in the house and make treatment harder.
- Termite damage isn’t covered by home insurance, so a yearly professional inspection is your best protection.
- Rockypest annual timber pest inspections cost $198 and include a detailed PDF report.
Termites are a constant threat to Australian homes — causing more damage than fire, flood, and storm damage combined. No home insurance policy in Australia covers termite damage, which means repair bills can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.
The good news: if you know what to look for, early detection makes treatment far easier and far cheaper.
What Do Termites Look Like?
Commonly called white ants, termites are pale and slightly translucent in colour, measuring around 4mm, larger than a black ant. They are wingless with soft bodies, making them look quite different to regular ants up close.
There are more than 300 species of termites across Australia, but subterranean (ground-dwelling) termites cause the most damage to homes and are the most common species found in Perth.
Flying termites (also called alates or swarmers) are a special caste that leave the colony to find new locations and start new colonies. If you see a swarm of winged insects around your home — especially after rain — this is a strong indicator of an established colony nearby.
They are often mistaken for flying ants, but termite swarmers have straight antennae, equal-length wings, and a thick waist, whereas flying ants have elbowed antennae and a pinched waist.
Workers vs soldiers: the pale insects you are most likely to see are workers, which do all the damage. Soldiers guard the colony and are easy to pick by their larger, darker orange-brown heads and strong jaws. In Coptotermes colonies, soldiers may also release a drop of milky white fluid when disturbed.
Termite Species Found Around Perth
Rockypest technicians most often deal with aggressive subterranean species such as Coptotermes acinaciformis and Schedorhinotermes intermedius. Both nest in soil, tree stumps or wall cavities and forage through the ground to reach timber, which is why they can turn up in homes that look completely sealed.
Why Termites Are So Common in Perth Suburbs
Whether you live in an established suburb like Karrinyup or a newer estate near bushland like Yanchep, the same conditions tend to invite termites.
- Sandy soil: Perth’s loose, sandy ground is easy for subterranean termites to tunnel through.
- Old trees and stumps: mature eucalypts, buried stumps and old root systems make ideal nest sites close to houses.
- Bushland edges: homes backing onto reserves and native vegetation sit right beside established colonies.
- Garden moisture: reticulation, garden beds and leaking taps against the walls keep soil damp near the slab.
- Timber roof framing: even double-brick homes usually have timber roofs, doorframes and skirtings that termites can reach through gaps.
Click here for Timber Pest Inspection
Related → Termites: White Ants | What Attracts Termites to a House?
What Do Termites Eat?
Termites primarily feed on timber that contains cellulose. If left undetected, they will work through all wooden structures in a building — walls, floors, roof timbers, and frames.
Once the timber is exhausted, they will also begin consuming other materials including furniture, clothing, paper products, fabrics, soft plastics, building sealants, and rigid foam insulation.
This is why unchecked infestations can cause such catastrophic and wide-ranging damage.
Termites are rarely seen directly — watch for these warning signs instead.
🪵 Hollow-sounding timber
Knock on wood — a hollow thud means the inside has been eaten away.
🟤 Mud tubes
Soil-and-wood tunnels along foundations or skirting boards.
🚪 Sticking doors & floors
Warped frames, hard-to-open doors, or spongy sagging floors.
🧱 Damaged skirtings
Soft boards that crumble or dent easily to the touch.
⚡ Electrical faults
Unexplained power failures from termites chewing wiring in walls.
🎨 Cracked paint & plaster
Bubbling or peeling paint with tiny pinholes and dirt at edges.
🟡 Frass (droppings)
Sawdust-like pellets near wood surfaces — easy to overlook.
🪶 Discarded wings
Piles of shed wings near windowsills or doorways after a swarm.
🧱 Warped walls
Bowed or uneven walls in severe infestations as timber is eaten away.
Signs You May Have a Termite Infestation
Because of their tiny size and preference for dark, hidden spaces, termites are rarely seen directly. Instead, watch for these warning signs:
Hollow-sounding timber
Knock or tap on wooden panels, floors, or furniture throughout your home. If you hear a hollow sound where there should be solid wood, termites have likely eaten away the interior while leaving the outer shell intact.
Mud tubes
These are small tunnels made from a mixture of soil and wood particles, constructed by worker termites to travel between their nest and food source while staying protected from open air. Look for them along concrete and brick foundations, in architraves, and near wooden structures.
Finding mud tubes is one of the most reliable indicators of an active subterranean termite colony.
Sticking or sagging doors, windows, and floors
Termites feeding on wooden door and window frames cause them to warp and swell, making them difficult to open or close. You may also notice floors that sag or feel spongy underfoot — a sign that the structural timber beneath has been hollowed out.
Damaged architraves and skirting boards
If these feel soft and crumble or dent easily to the touch, the internal timber has been eaten away, leaving only a fragile outer shell. This is a clear sign of significant termite activity.
Electrical problems and power failures
Unexplained or recurring power failures can be caused by termites chewing through electrical wiring concealed inside walls. If you’re experiencing electrical faults with no obvious cause, a termite inspection is worth considering.
Mud around power points, light switches and cracks
Subterranean termites plug any gap they travel through with mud to keep out light and air. Small smears or crusts of soil around power points, light switches, cornices, or cracks in plaster are a tell-tale sign that termites are working inside the wall cavity.
Cracked or bubbling paint and plaster
Bubbling or peeling paint, cracks in plaster, and damage to drywall can all indicate termite activity behind the surface. Look for tiny pinhole-sized openings in walls — if termites made them, there will often be small traces of dirt or frass (termite droppings) around the edges.
Frass (termite droppings)
Drywood termites push their droppings out of small kick-out holes in the wood. These appear as tiny piles of pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds near wooden surfaces. This is a sign specific to drywood termites and is easy to overlook.
Perth note: subterranean termites, the most common type here, do not leave neat piles of droppings. They mix their waste into the mud they build with, so if you find pellets or fine dust, it could point to drywood termites or wood borers. Either way, it is worth having identified.
Discarded wings
After a termite swarm, the alates shed their wings. Finding small piles of discarded wings near windowsills, doorways, or light sources is a strong sign that swarmers have recently been active in or around your property.
Tight-fitting or warped walls
In severe infestations, internal walls can shift slightly as structural timber is eaten away, causing walls that were previously straight to appear bowed or uneven.
Click here for Timber Pest Inspection
What Does Termite Damage Look Like?
Termite damage is easy to miss because termites eat timber from the inside out. The surface often looks normal, or just slightly rippled or blistered, until you press on it.
Inside the timber: damaged wood is hollowed into layered galleries that follow the grain, leaving a paper-thin outer skin. With subterranean termites, those galleries are usually packed with damp soil and mud, which is one of the clearest ways to tell termite damage apart from other timber problems.
On the surface: look for skirting boards that break away to reveal soil, doorframes with a dented or wavy finish, paint that blisters like water damage, and ceilings or cornices that sag or show mud lines.
🔎 Termites, Rot or Borer? What Your Damaged Timber Is Telling You
✅ Soft, spongy timber near a leak, cracking into small cubes, with no mud
This is more likely wood rot caused by moisture. Fix the leak, but still consider an inspection, because damp timber also attracts termites.
➖ Small round holes with fine, powdery dust below
This usually points to wood borers rather than termites. Borers need a different approach, so get the insect identified.
⚠️ Hollow timber packed with soil, mud tubes, or live pale insects
These are signs of active subterranean termites. Leave everything undisturbed and book a timber pest inspection straight away.
Not sure? Take photos and call 08 9592 2566 so a technician can help you work out what you are looking at.
Related → Wood Decay: Fungi, Mould and Algae | Borer | Dangers of Termites
Signs of Termites in Brick and Concrete Slab Homes
Many Perth homes are brick on a concrete slab, and plenty of owners assume that means they are safe. Termites cannot eat brick or concrete, but they can travel through tiny gaps to reach the timber inside.
🧱 Slab edges and cracks: Mud tubes running up the edge of the slab, or out of cracks and control joints in the concrete.
🚰 Plumbing penetrations: Mud around pipes where they pass through the slab, especially under sinks, behind toilets and in laundries.
🕳️ Weep holes: Soil packed into the weep holes in the brickwork, often where garden beds have been built up against the wall.
🏠 Ceilings and cornices: Sagging ceilings, cracked cornices or mud lines, since termites often travel up wall cavities to the timber roof.
🚪 Doorframes and built-ins: Soft or wavy doorframes, architraves and built-in wardrobes on the ground floor.
Related → Protect Your Home from Termite Infestation
How to Check Your Home for Termites
A regular walk-around will not replace a professional inspection, but it can help you spot trouble early. Take a torch, a screwdriver handle for tapping, and your phone for photos.
Phase 1: Outside
Walk the perimeter. Check the slab edge, brickwork and weep holes for mud tubes or packed soil, paying close attention to damp spots.
Check garden timber. Look over fences, sleepers, pergolas, stumps and stored timber near the house for damage or mud.
Look at wet points. Inspect around taps, hot water systems, air conditioner drains and downpipes, where soil stays moist.
Phase 2: Inside
Tap and press. Gently tap skirting boards, architraves and doorframes, listening for a hollow sound and feeling for softness.
Scan walls and ceilings. Look for bubbling paint, pinholes, mud around power points and switches, and sagging cornices.
Check wet areas. Look closely in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens, around pipes and under sinks and vanities.
Important: if you find mud tubes, damaged timber or live termites, leave them exactly as they are. Do not break open tubes, spray insecticide or pull out damaged timber. Disturbed termites often retreat and reappear somewhere else in the house, which makes them much harder to treat. Take photos and book an inspection.
Where to Look for Termites
Termites tend to target certain areas first. Make a habit of checking:
- Subfloor spaces and roof voids
- Timber wall frames near the ground or any moisture source
- Door and window frames throughout the home
- Decks, fences, and garden retaining walls adjacent to the house
- Firewood or timber debris stored against the house (a common entry point)
Termite Prevention Tips
While professional inspections are the most reliable defence, reducing conditions that attract termites also helps:
- Fix any plumbing leaks or drainage issues promptly — termites are drawn to moisture
- Keep timber, mulch, and garden debris away from the house perimeter
- Ensure subfloor ventilation is working properly to reduce humidity
- Don’t store firewood against the house or under the floor
- Seal any cracks in the home’s concrete slab or foundation
Extra Prevention Tips for Perth Properties
- Keep the slab edge visible: don’t let garden beds, paving or soil build up over the slab edge or cover weep holes, so any mud tubes can be seen.
- Aim reticulation away from walls: sprinklers soaking the brickwork keep the soil beside your home constantly damp.
- Remove old stumps and sleepers: buried timber and old tree stumps near the house are common nesting spots.
- Redirect overflow water: make sure air conditioner, hot water unit and downpipe water drains away from the house.
- Avoid timber-to-soil contact: keep fence posts, steps and garden structures from touching the ground where possible.
Warning: store-bought termite sprays and home remedies may kill the termites you can see, but they rarely reach the colony and can scatter survivors deeper into the house. Treat them as a stopgap at best, never as a replacement for a professional inspection and treatment.
Related → Home Remedies To Control Termite Damage | What Attracts Termites to a House?
The Importance of Regular Professional Termite Inspections
Because termites work silently inside walls and under floors, much of the damage is invisible until it becomes severe. Regular professional inspections are your most important line of defence.
Under Australian Standards, it is recommended that all properties be inspected by a licensed pest inspector at least once a year — and more frequently in high-risk areas.
A skilled professional uses specialised equipment for termite treatment — including moisture meters, thermal imaging, and acoustic detection devices — to find termite activity that is completely invisible to the naked eye.
It is important to remember that building insurance in Australia does not cover termite damage, so early detection is the only real protection for your investment.
📋 Annual timber pest inspection
A visual inspection to AS 3660.2-2000 using tools of the trade, covering internal areas and timber structures within 50 metres of the property boundary. Detailed PDF report.
🏡 Pre-purchase inspection
A visual inspection to Australian Standard 4349.3 before you buy, with a detailed PDF report so you know what you are taking on.
🌡️ Thermal imaging
Heat-sensing cameras help find hidden termite activity and moisture behind walls without opening them up.
🛡️ Termite barriers
A chemical protective zone installed to AS 3660.2-2000, providing up to 5 years of protection if left uninterrupted. Requires an on-site inspection first.
📞 Book an Inspection Straight Away If You Notice
- Mud tubes on your slab, brickwork, skirtings or pipes.
- Timber that sounds hollow or crumbles when pressed.
- Piles of discarded wings or a swarm of winged insects after rain.
- Bubbling paint with pinholes, or mud around power points.
- Doors or windows that have suddenly started sticking.
- Unexplained electrical faults with no obvious cause.
- It has been more than 12 months since your last inspection, or you are about to buy a home.
💲 What a Termite Inspection Costs with Rockypest
Prices as listed on Rockypest’s current price list. There is no warranty on inspection services. Barrier pricing is confirmed after an in-person visit, so please call the office to arrange a time.
If you suspect you have a termite problem, contact Rockypest for a thorough timber pest inspection. We’ll provide a professional assessment and a complete treatment and prevention plan.
Click here for Timber Pest Inspection
Related posts:
- Dangers of Termites
- Home Remedies To Control Termite Damage
- Termite Prevention: Home Termite Infestation Damage Prevention
Spotted a Sign of Termites?
Rockypest’s licensed inspectors check your home to Australian Standards, confirm whether termites are active, and give you a clear written report and treatment plan.
Servicing Rockingham, Baldivis, Mandurah, Kwinana, Fremantle, Armadale, Secret Harbour, Port Kennedy, Canning Vale, Greater Perth.
Termite FAQs
What are the first signs of termites in a house?
The earliest signs are usually mud tubes on the slab, brickwork or skirting boards, timber that sounds hollow when tapped, doors that suddenly stick, small mud smears around power points, and discarded wings near windows after a swarm.
What does termite damage look like?
Timber looks normal or slightly rippled on the surface but is hollow underneath, with layered galleries following the grain. In subterranean termite damage, those galleries are usually packed with soil or mud.
See → Dangers of Termites
What do termites look like in Australia?
Worker termites are pale, soft-bodied and around 4mm long with straight antennae and no pinched waist. Soldiers have larger, darker orange-brown heads with jaws, and flying termites have four equal-length wings.
See → Termites: White Ants
How can I check for termites myself?
Walk the outside of the home looking for mud tubes on the slab and brickwork, check garden timber and damp spots, then tap skirting boards and doorframes inside and look for bubbling paint or mud around power points. Leave anything you find undisturbed.
What do termite droppings look like?
Drywood termites leave small piles of pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds. Subterranean termites, the most common type in Perth, mix their droppings into mud, so you are more likely to see mud than pellets.
Can termites get into a brick or concrete slab home?
Yes. Termites can travel through cracks in the slab, gaps around plumbing, weep holes and wall cavities to reach timber roof framing, doorframes and skirtings inside a brick home.
See → Protect Your Home from Termites
Why do I have termites in my Perth suburb?
Perth’s sandy soils, old trees and stumps, bushland edges and reticulated gardens all create ideal conditions for subterranean termites, whether you are in an established suburb or a new estate.
See → What Attracts Termites to a House?
Should I spray termites if I find them?
No. Spraying or breaking open termite workings usually kills only a few and drives the rest elsewhere in the house, making professional treatment harder. Leave them undisturbed and book an inspection.
See → Home Remedies To Control Termite Damage
How often should I have a termite inspection?
Australian Standards recommend a professional inspection at least once a year, and more often in high-risk areas.
See → Timber Pest Inspection
How much does a termite inspection cost in Perth?
Rockypest’s annual timber pest inspection is $198, and a single-storey pre-purchase timber pest inspection is also $198, both with a detailed PDF report.
See → Current Price List
Does home insurance cover termite damage?
No. Building insurance in Australia generally does not cover termite damage, which is why early detection and regular inspections matter so much.
See → Termite Treatment Perth
Book Your Termite Inspection →
Rockypest Pty Ltd, servicing Rockingham, Baldivis, Mandurah, Kwinana, Fremantle, Armadale, Secret Harbour, Port Kennedy, Canning Vale and greater Perth, WA, with pest control experience since 1988.
