Types Of Australian Termite Species

Australia is the home of many species of termites, but only a few are considered pests that can cause serious damage to our property. These types of termites form large colonies and attack wood aggressively.

Here are the most common Australian termite species encountered by homeowners:

Mastotermes (Giant Termite)

• Common Name: Giant Termite
• Key Traits: This termite species is the largest in the world.
• Habitat:  This species is found mostly in Northern Australia, especially the Top End of the Northern Territory.
• Behavior:  These types of termites are highly destructive to wood, leather, crops, and even plastic.
• Significance: This species is extremely destructive.

Cryptotermes (West Indian Dry-Wood Termite)

• Common Name: Drywood Termite
• Key Traits: This termite species lives inside dry wood (no soil contact needed).
• Habitat: This species is normally found in northern Australia, often in furniture and structural timber.
• Behavior:  This species can easily confine wood structures. Their colony development is very slow.
• Significance: Drywood Termites can easily be transported through furniture and timber.

Neotermes (Ring-Ant Termite)

• Common Name: Ring-Ant Termite
• Key Traits: Large soldiers and workers; ringed antennae are distinctive.
• Habitat:  This species lives in trees and in dead wood, and is mainly found in tropical and subtropical regions.
• Behavior: They damage trees, not buildings.
• Significance: They can be destructive to landscaping and garden structures, not to the homes.

Porotermes (Dampwood Termite)

• Common Name: Dampwood Termite
• Key Traits: Dampwood termites love to live in moist and decaying wood. They are large-bodied species.
• Habitat: Forested areas of southern Australia, often in logs and stumps.
• Behavior:  They need moisture to survive; this is the reason they are not common in dry structures.
• Significance: They are considered a Minor pest. Attacks very rarely and creates sounds in the timber of homes.

Heterotermes

• Common Name: There is no common name for heterotermes, but they are often grouped as subterranean termites.
• Key Traits: This species is very small but aggressive wood feeders.
• Habitat: They are normally found in Arid and semi-arid regions of Australia, including parts of WA and SA.
• Behavior: These species especially attack softwoods, especially where there is a damp area.
• Significance: They can cause structural damage, but are less aggressive than Coptotermes.

Coptotermes

• Common Name: No common name for coptotermes but most destructive species in Australia.
• Key Traits: This species is highly aggressive and forms large colonies.
• Habitat: This species is normally found across most of Australia.
• Behavior: They normally build underground nests or in trees.
• Significance: Responsible for the majority of termite damage to Australian buildings.

Schedorhinotermes

• Common Name: No common name, but referred to as multi-soldier termites.
• Key Traits: This species has two sizes of soldiers, one is major and the other is minor, and both are aggressive.
• Habitat: This species is normally found in coastal and sub coastal regions.
• Behavior: These type of termites build nests in tree stumps or under homes.
• Significance: This species is also responsible for severe structural damage.

Microcerotermes

• Common Name: Arboreal or Tree Termites
• Key Traits: Tree termites normally build mud nests in trees and sometimes on posts or buildings.
• Habitat: They are normally found in Northern and eastern Australia.
• Behavior: They make their nests above ground but can forage into buildings.
• Significance:  They are very minor pests but can weaken timber in outdoor structures.

Amitermes (Compass Termite)

• Common Name: Compass Termite
• Key Traits:  They normally build wedge-shaped mounds that align north–south.
• Habitat: This species is found in Northern Australia, especially in the savannah and arid zones.
• Behavior: Feeds on grass and surface litter.
• Significance: These types of termites are not a structural pest; they have more of an ecological role in nutrient recycling.

Nasutitermes

• Common Name: Nasute Termite
• Key Traits: The Nasute termite Soldiers have a pointed snout (nasus) that squirts defensive chemicals.
• Habitat: They are widely distributed, especially in coastal regions.
• Behavior: They normally build arboreal or mound nests.
• Significance: This species is not that destructive, but yes, they attack timber in the buildings.