Termites generally like to eat softwood that is fungus-infested and rotting.

Termites can pose a significant threat to your property. In Australia, there are about 360 species, but not all are harmful. Only a few of them can cause significant damage if you leave them unnoticed. There is a common termite species with black bodies that live in subterranean colonies. They have mostly straight antennae, a body that is broad in the middle and wings that are veined and similar in size and shape. Those living on dry wood don’t have a dark black colour. Termites have different roles and can be identified based on how they look.

How to identify different types of termite species

Although there are hundreds of species of termites, only a few are common in Australia.

Subterranean termites and drywood termites

Subterranean termites have distinct characteristics - skin is white or lighter and their size is similar to ants. The main difference is their body sections - ants have pinched waist, abdomen, and head, making three sections. On the other hand, a termite has only two body sections.

Drywood termites, unlike dampwood termites, infestation timbers with little or no moisture. They have a pale or dark brown-yellowish colour with different features based on their role, like worker, soldier,or reproductive.

Worker termites

Workers are a type of termite that take care of sourcing, storing, and maintaining food supplies in the colonies.

Soldier termites

Soldiers protect the termite colony and are bigger in size with a larger head and jaws when compared to the workers. These features help termite soldiers defend their nest from attackers.

Reproductive termites

These are flying termites or winged termites with two sets of wings that they lose after a flight. Termite swarmers fly from the mud tubes to find a new site for nesting. One of them becomes a queen that lives as a loner and lays eggs in the new colony.

What woods do termites not eat?

Termite likes to eat softwood that is fungus-infested and rotting. If the floor and walls of your home are touching soil, there are chances that you might have to manage termites at some stage. You can below different types of wood to withstand termites - listed below.

Pressure treated

Pressure-treated timber is manufactured by applying preservatives to the pores to prevent moisture, fungus, and decay. It acts as a chemical barrier against termites and significantly slows down the natural rotting process.

Naturally resistant

The central of a non-living tree is denser and darker and prevents liquid and gasses pass through. Also, there are species like redwoods, cypress, Laotian teak, and yellow cedar that termites generally avoid.

Composite wood

Composite wood is a product manufactured with materials like plastic that termites can’t eat. Some composite materials combine plastic and wood fibres. As a result, their durability is longer than other types of woods.