Coptotermes: Coptotermes acinaciformis is found throughout mainland Australia and causes more damage to property than any other species accounting for more than 70% of termite damage in Australia. It is aggressive in its search for food and will attack many items other than wood in its search for cellulose materials. It will damage wall lining boards, electrical wiring, and even personal possessions. A single colony may consist of more than 1 million termites…. One to be taken seriously
Nasutitermes: There are several species of Nasutitermes which cause significant damage to timber in service. Soldier termites of these species are distinguished by their pointed heads. Nasutitermes exitiosus usually builds a low mound and is more common across Southern Australia. Nasutitermes walkeri builds part of its colony as a nest on the branch of a tree; the rest is constructed in the ground beneath it. This genus will mainly attack hardwood such as that found in fences and timber decking.
Mastotermes: Mastotermes darwiniensis, the Giant Northern Termite, is the most primitive of the commercially significant species. It shows an ability for sub-colonies to split off from the main colony and produce queens, without a mating flight. Eventually a network of interconnecting sub-colonies is established, which makes control difficult. These large termites can devastate buildings, bridges, poles, trees, and crops such as sugarcane. Mastotermes is found mainly north of the Tropic of Capricorn. Colonies have also been identified on the Gold Coast.
Schedorhinotermes: These termites causes damage approaching the severity caused by Coptotermes. They build fragile nests in places such as old tree stumps, in timber buried in the ground, in filled patios, and under fireplaces. The damage they cause is distinctive. Although it can be severe, it is often patchy with huge gouges taken out of sound timber, particularly around nails in floor boards or other timbers. Schedorhinotermes colonies contain major and minor soldier
Heterotermes: Heterotermes are a significant structural pest throughout Queensland, northern WA, and the NT. In southern Australia they are only a minor nuisance. They are generally considered to do little damage to timber in service, restricting their attention to weathered timber fences, decking, and posts. Occasionally they can cause superficial damage to sound timber.
Microcerotermes: The genera Microcerotermes are found along the Coastal Queensland and New South Wales regions. They commonly attach their nest to a tree, and maintain a soil connection via galleries running down the surface of the trunk. However they also establish colonies underground, in small mounds or on posts or poles. There main point of entry to dwellings is decayed timbers in contact with the ground such as found with poles, posts, and fences.
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