Termite mounds in Australia: what they are and what to do if one is near your house
A mound looks like the whole problem. Usually it is only one part of a colony, and the part that matters for your house is rarely the one you can see.
The short answer on termite mounds
A termite mound is the above-ground part of a nest, built from soil, saliva and dung. Some Australian species build tall, obvious ones. Many of the species that attack houses do not, and keep their nest underground or inside a tree where nobody sees it.
So a mound in the paddock tells you termites live nearby. A lack of one tells you nothing. If you find a mound, leave it alone and book an inspection.
Which termites build mounds?
Mound building is a trait of particular species, mostly in the warmer north and inland. Some build dome or cathedral shapes that can stand taller than a person. Others build small, rounded mounds at the base of a tree or stump.
The termites that cause most house damage in the southern states often have a concealed central nest instead. That is why a clear lawn is not reassurance. A colony can sit metres from the house, with foraging galleries running under the soil to reach timber.
You cannot tell the species from the shape of a mound or from a photo of one. That call is made from soldiers under magnification by a licensed inspector.
Is a mound near the house a worry?
It is worth acting on, but it is not an emergency. A mound shows a colony is established in the area. It does not show the colony has found your timber.
The question for an inspector is whether there is activity in the house and whether conditions around it invite it. Those are different questions from how big the mound is.
| What you see | What it can mean | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| A mound in a paddock or far corner of the block | A colony is established in the area | Leave it, and keep your regular inspection on schedule |
| A mound or soil heap against a fence, tree or stump close to the house | A colony close enough to forage toward the building | Leave it, and book a timber pest inspection soon |
| Mud tubes on piers, walls or the slab edge | Foraging toward timber, possibly already in it | Do not disturb them, and book an inspection promptly |
Why you never knock a mound down
Knocking a mound over feels decisive. It is the wrong move. A mound is not the colony, only its housing. The colony sits deeper, and what you have done is stir it up.
Disturbed termites close that route and re-enter somewhere you are not watching, which can include your house. Breaking the mound also destroys evidence an inspector reads, and it wrecks the transfer effect that the non-repellent products used by a licensed technician depend on.
The same goes for spraying or pouring anything on it. Treating a nest is work for a licensed pest management technician using products registered by the APVMA, not a weekend job.
What actually protects the house
A regular inspection to AS 4349.3 and a termite management system installed to AS 3660.1 do the real work. A mound nearby is a good reason to keep both up to date and to ask your inspector to look at the yard as well as the building.
Keep garden beds, paving and stored timber clear of the slab edge, and fix any leak that keeps the ground damp. Those are the conditions that turn a nearby colony into a problem at your house.
Frequently asked questions
Does a termite mound on my property mean my house has termites?
No. It means a colony is established nearby. Whether it has reached your timber is something only an inspection can answer, so leave the mound untouched and book a timber pest inspection that covers the yard as well as the building.
Can I knock down a termite mound myself?
You should not. The mound is only the housing, and the colony sits deeper. Breaking it makes the termites close that route and re-enter somewhere unseen, and it destroys the evidence an inspector would read. Treatment is for a licensed pest management technician.
If I have no mound, am I safe from termites?
No. Many of the species that attack houses keep a concealed nest underground or in a tree and build nothing visible. A clear lawn is not reassurance, which is why regular inspection matters more than looking for mounds.
Can I tell which termite built a mound from a photo?
No. Species is identified from soldiers under magnification by a licensed inspector. Matching a mound shape to a species is a guess, and a wrong guess can change the treatment.
Sources
What this page explains is based on these official sources. If you check one and it does not match what you read here, send it to us and the article gets corrected.
- Department of Health, Victoria. Pest control: termites
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission. Protect against termites: termite management systems and inspections
- Standards Australia. Australian Standards (AS 3660 termite management, AS 4349.3 timber pest inspection)
- Australian Building Codes Board. National Construction Code