I Found Termites. What Should I Do Right Now?

If you have found termites, the most important thing is to leave them alone. Do not spray them and do not break open the area. Disturbing the workings scatters the colony and makes it harder to find and treat. Keep children and pets away from the spot and book a termite inspection so the full extent can be traced.

Why not to spray or open it up

It feels natural to hit them with fly spray or pull the section apart to see what is going on. Both make things worse. Spraying kills a handful of workers and sends the rest deeper into the structure. Opening the area breaks the mud workings that let us follow the activity back to where it is coming from. The calmer you leave it, the better the result.

What to do instead

Note where you saw them and what you saw, whether that is mud tubes, hollow-sounding timber, or discarded wings on a sill. Close the door on the room if you can and keep pets and kids clear. Then arrange an inspection. I use a thermal imaging camera and a moisture meter, so the activity can be mapped without disturbing it, and I write the findings and the recommendation into a report on-site.

What happens next

Once we know where the colony is active and how it is getting in, there are two main treatment paths: a chemical barrier that the termites carry back to the nest, or a baiting system that the colony shares. Which one suits your home depends on the construction and where the activity is. The inspection is what tells us that.

Common questions

Should I spray termites if I find them?
No. Spraying scatters the colony without dealing with it and makes the activity harder to trace. Leave them undisturbed and book an inspection.

Are termites an emergency?
They are not a same-day danger to people, but they do not stop feeding, so it is worth acting promptly. The sooner the activity is traced, the less timber is lost.

What is the first step to getting rid of termites?
An inspection. You need to know where the colony is active and how it is entering before choosing between a barrier and a baiting system. Treating blind rarely deals with the colony.

Found something? Leave it be and book a termite inspection, and I will trace it properly.