What a termite nest looks like
The termites that attack houses in Queensland usually nest in the soil or inside trees and stumps, out of sight. According to CSIRO, termites may nest underground, inside trees, stumps, logs or roots, in damp spots inside buildings, or as mounds on the ground or on trees. The Queensland Government describes a Coptotermes mound as a hard outer wall of soil around a core of soil and woody material called carton.
What you see depends on where the colony lives:
- Underground nests: nothing visible above the soil.
- Nests in trees and stumps: hidden inside a living tree, dead tree or stump.
- Mounds: a raised nest of hardened soil.
- Nests attached to tree trunks: a lump on the trunk, joined to the ground by galleries.
- Subterranean termite nests inside buildings: rare, and can occur where there is constant moisture, such as leaking plumbing.
Mud leads and workings: the signs termites leave
Subterranean termites usually reach timber without being seen. Business Queensland says these termites stay inside closed galleries away from light. For where to look, see how to check your home for termites and the most common termite hot spots.
Mud leads and tunnels
A termite mud lead, also called a shelter tube, is a narrow earthy tube running over a hard surface. CSIRO says subterranean termites build these tubes over concrete, brickwork and stumps to avoid sunlight, including over ant caps and slab edges. The Queensland Government advises checking for small mud tunnels against walls and paths, and trails up foundation posts or brick walls.
Termite workings in timber
Termite workings are galleries eaten through timber. CSIRO says termites seal small gaps in timber with friable mud and may leave the surface wafer-thin. The Queensland Government describes mud plastering along joints and cracks, bulging or rippling paintwork, and timber that sounds papery when lightly tapped.
Termite holes and kick-out holes
Subterranean termites, which CSIRO says cause most structural damage in Australia, may seal small gaps and crevices in timber with mud. Holes with small piles of dry pellets beneath them, often called kick-out holes, point to drywood termites. CSIRO says these holes may be only 1 mm wide, and the pellets, called frass, feel gritty like sand or ground pepper. Business Queensland says the West Indian drywood termite is established in many Greater Brisbane suburbs.
The main nest types and what each looks like
Australia has more than 350 termite species, but CSIRO says only about 20 cause significant damage to buildings.
Underground nests
An underground termite nest has no visible form. The Queensland Government says some species have no apparent central nest, while others build one in the soil. Coptotermes and Schedorhinotermes, both found throughout Queensland, are pest termites that nest this way. Their galleries can extend up to 50 m, so a mud lead on a house may come from a nest well beyond it.
Nests in trees and stumps
A termite nest in a tree or stump sits inside the trunk, roots or stump, usually out of sight. CSIRO says Coptotermes colonies may nest in tree stumps, hollow trees and living trees. More on tree nests is in termites in trees and the garden.
Mounds
A termite mound is a raised nest of hardened soil, and the Queensland Government calls it the most familiar form of termite nest. Coptotermes lacteus, found in southern Queensland, builds mounds usually associated with stumps.
Nests attached to tree trunks
A termite nest attached to a tree is a lump fixed to the trunk. The Queensland Government says Microcerotermes and Nasutitermes species attach their nest to a tree and keep a soil connection through galleries running down the trunk.
Termite nest or something else?
A mud structure on a house is not always termite work. CSIRO describes mud dauber wasps building nests on walls and under eaves, and many ants nest in soil.
| What you see | Termites | Mud-building wasp | Ants | What to check |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mud tube up a wall, pier or slab edge | Shelter tube built to stay out of the light | Mud daubers build nests on walls and under eaves | Ants travel in open lines along scent trails | Whether the tube starts at the soil |
| Small mud cells or a mud lump on a wall, eave or window frame | Mud packed into gaps and joints in timber | Mud dauber or potter wasp nest, often under eaves | Sugar ants nest in holes in wood, roots or soil | A lump on the surface, or mud filling a joint |
| Mound or soil heap in the yard | Hardened soil mound | Sand wasps dig nests in sandy soil | Meat ant mounds are pebble-covered with many entrance holes | Hard soil, or a pebbly heap with ants coming and going |
| Lump on a tree trunk | Nest with galleries running down to the soil | Paper wasp or potter wasp nest | A few tropical ants build tree nests from plant fibres | Mud galleries from the lump down the trunk to the ground |
| Loose soil or a small hole in the ground | Subterranean termites stay inside closed galleries | Sand wasp burrow | Ant nest, sometimes with a single entrance hole | Insects coming and going in the open |
Table sources: CSIRO, the Queensland Government and Business Queensland. Business Queensland says identifying the termite species takes skill and a hand lens or microscope of at least tenfold magnification, and CSIRO notes flying termites have straight antennae while flying ants have elbowed ones. Insects often mistaken for termites are covered in 6 bugs that are commonly mistaken as termites, and the white ant name in white ants and termites.
Can a termite nest be inside your house?
Yes, a subterranean termite nest can be inside a house, but it is rare. The Queensland Government says attacks on buildings usually start from a nest in the ground outside the building, or occasionally buried beneath it. In rare cases a colony sets up a nest inside, where leaking plumbing or another permanent source of moisture and food is available. Subterranean termites cannot start a nest from infested firewood carried indoors, because the link to the central nest is broken. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) adds that termites get inside through wall cavities, cracks in mortar or slabs, and voids beside service entry points.
Signs inside walls are indirect: bubbled paint, rippled or bulging linings, mud in joints and damp patches. Do not cut into plasterboard to look for a nest. Finding it is a job for a licensed termite inspector, and the first steps are in what to do if you have found termites.
Which nests point to a risk to the building
A termite nest near your house shows termites are foraging in the area; it does not by itself mean your house is under attack. CSIRO says termites usually forage within 30 m of the nest, and garden termites do not necessarily enter the house. Many urban mound and tree nesting termites do not attack sound seasoned timber, the Queensland Government adds.
| Where it is | What it may mean for the house | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Mud leads on or under the house | Higher concern: leads are how termites reach house timber | Leave it intact, photograph it and book an inspection |
| Workings or live termites in house timber | Highest concern: termites are already in the building | Leave it alone and book an inspection promptly |
| Nest in a tree or stump near the house | Moderate concern: termites are within foraging distance | Have the house inspected and mention the tree |
| Mound or nest well away from the house | Lower concern: the species may not attack buildings | Keep up regular inspections |
| Termite activity in a pergola, step or post joined to the house | Moderate concern: CSIRO warns termites can reach a house from timber posts in soil | Have it identified at your next inspection |
QBCC recommends a yearly inspection by a licensed pest controller, or more often in high hazard areas.
Why you should not break it open
Breaking open a termite nest, mud lead or workings can make the colony harder to find and treat. The Queensland Government tells householders not to disturb any nests, mud tunnels, paths or trails if they suspect termites. Its fact sheet warns that early attempts to repair or replace infested timber may make termites withdraw temporarily and hinder treatment. CSIRO adds that several control options rely on finding active termites.
Instead of spraying or knocking a lead down, take photos, note where it is and leave it alone. How licensed technicians manage termites is explained in how termites are treated.
Next steps
A termite inspection is how to find out what a mud lead, workings or a nearby nest means for your home. To see what shapes the cost, read what affects the cost of a termite inspection. When you are ready, Bob Gunn Termite Solutions carries out residential termite inspections across south-east Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Common questions
Do termites ever just go away?
Do not assume termites have gone because the signs stop. The Queensland Government says mature colonies can number up to two million termites and last as long as 50 years. Disturbing termites or the timber they are in can make them withdraw temporarily, so a quiet patch may not mean the colony has gone. Termites also usually reach timber without being seen. A termite inspection is how to know whether a colony is still active.
How can I tell if a termite mud lead is still active?
Have it checked rather than breaking it open to look for termites. The Queensland Government advises against disturbing nests, mud tunnels or trails, because disturbance can make termites withdraw temporarily and hinder treatment. Its fact sheet on termites in buildings says a competent inspector should have devices such as a moisture meter, a borescope and microwave instruments that can detect movement inside timber. A licensed termite inspector can then assess the lead and the timber around it.
Do termites make holes in walls?
Subterranean termites may seal small gaps and crevices in timber with mud. CSIRO says they use the same friable mud as their shelter tubes and can damage the paper backing on plasterboard. On a painted or plasterboard wall, the Queensland Government lists blistered or bubbled paint and rippled or bulging wall linings as signs, and its termite fact sheet adds mud plastered along joints and cracks in timber. If you see these, leave the wall intact and book a termite inspection.
Do I need a licensed technician to treat a termite nest?
For a dependable result, yes. CSIRO says successful control of a termite colony usually requires a licensed pest manager, and home treatment risks driving termites away temporarily. In Queensland, QBCC's Termite Management Chemical licence covers inspecting a building and giving advice or a report about termite infestation. Chemical termite work also needs a Queensland Pest Management Licence from the Department of Health. Treatment methods are explained in the guide to how termites are treated.
Who can check a suspected termite nest near my home in south-east Queensland?
Bob Gunn Termite Solutions carries out residential termite inspections across south-east Queensland, including Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Ipswich, Redlands, the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and the Sunshine Coast. Quotes are free, and dates chosen when booking online are preferences until Bob Gunn confirms them. Until the inspection, leave the nest or mud lead undisturbed. For reference, the business's QBCC licence number is 894337.
Sources
- Managing Termites: Understanding termites and reducing their risk to buildings, CSIRO. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Subterranean termites in Queensland, Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Subterranean termite infestation in buildings, Queensland Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Termites (public housing tenants), Queensland Government. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Subterranean and drywood termites, Business Queensland, Queensland Government. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Detecting and identifying West Indian drywood termite, Business Queensland, Queensland Government. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Termite management systems: advisory notes for builders and homeowners, Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Accessed 7 November 2026
- Termite management (chemical) licence, Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Accessed 7 November 2026
- Protect against termites, Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC). Accessed 7 November 2026
- Isoptera: termites, CSIRO Entomology. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Sphecidae family: sand wasps or mud daubers, CSIRO Entomology. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Vespidae family: potter wasps or social wasps, CSIRO Entomology. Accessed 7 November 2026
- Formicidae family: ants, CSIRO Entomology. Accessed 7 November 2026
