How to Get Rid of Termites: Bait the Colony First

By Nick, Active Termite Control, licensed pest controller (NSW licence 5074559), Earlwood. Updated 21 October 2026.

For how I treat a live termite problem and what it costs, see termite treatment in Sydney.

The short answer: Don't spray them or break into the workings. The colony gets baited first. Bait goes onto the workings, the workers carry it back, and with Nemesis the colony is usually gone 6 to 12 weeks after feeding starts. Then long-term protection goes in: a chemical barrier or a monitoring system. Start with an inspection, from $330.

What should I do if I find termites?

Leave them alone and book an inspection. Don't spray them, don't break open more timber, and don't pull the mud workings off. If you want a likely answer first, send me a photo.

Most of the termite work I do on Sydney houses is Coptotermes. It nests in the ground, a stump or tree, or under the building, and travels through the soil to the timber. The termites in your wall are a long way from the nest.

Why don't DIY termite sprays work?

A spray kills the termites it touches, not the colony. The nest is somewhere else, and the workers you can see are only the ones out feeding. Spraying them or breaking open the workings sends the rest away from that spot, which makes the colony harder to find and harder to bait.

How do you get rid of a termite colony?

The colony gets baited first. I put bait stations on the workings and in the ground around the house. The workers feed on the bait and take it back to the colony, and the colony dies off. I use Nemesis and Trelona.

With Nemesis, the colony is usually gone 6 to 12 weeks after the termites start feeding (Nemesis brochure). On some live-termite jobs I'm back every 2 weeks while it's being treated.

Colony treatment carries no warranty. The warranty comes with the long-term protection that goes in afterwards.

What happens after the termites are gone?

Long-term protection goes in, so the next colony doesn't get in unseen. That's either a chemical barrier (Termidor) or a monitoring system, depending on the house.

	Chemical barrier	Monitoring system
What it is	A treated zone of soil around the house	In-ground stations around the house, checked on schedule
Cover	My 8-year installation warranty, valid with a yearly inspection by me	Covered while it's monitored
Ongoing cost	$330–$350 a year for the inspection	About $1,500–$2,000 a year in visits
Suits	Homes where the whole perimeter can be treated	Pavers to the walls, a zero-lot boundary, water nearby, renovations coming

How I choose between them: chemical barrier or monitoring system. All the options: termite barriers.

How much does it cost to get rid of termites?

Most chemical barrier and baiting systems on a Sydney home come in at around $5,000, depending on the size of the house and access. You get a written, itemised quote before anything starts.

The full breakdown is in my termite treatment cost guide.

How long does it take to get rid of termites?

With Nemesis, the colony is usually gone 6 to 12 weeks after the termites start feeding. How long they take to start feeding depends on the site. Long-term protection goes in once the colony is gone.

Why do I need an inspection first?

Because I need to know where the termites are, how far they've got, and what the house allows before I can treat it properly. I check with a thermal camera and moisture meter, write the report on site on the AS 4349.3-2010 timber pest form, and hand it to you before I leave. Inspections are from $330 single storey or $350 two storey.

Only an inspection can tell you whether a house has termites. Book a termite inspection.

Common questions

How do you get rid of termites?
Don't spray or break into the workings. The colony gets baited first, then a chemical barrier or monitoring system goes in for long-term protection.

Can I spray termites myself?
A spray kills only the termites it touches, not the colony, and sends the rest away from the bait. Leave them for an inspection.

How long does it take to get rid of termites?
With Nemesis, the colony is usually gone 6 to 12 weeks after the termites start feeding.

Is there a warranty on getting rid of termites?
Colony treatment carries no warranty. The warranty comes with the chemical barrier or monitoring that goes in afterwards.

How much does it cost to get rid of termites?
Most chemical barrier and baiting systems on a Sydney home come in at around $5,000, depending on the size of the house and access. You get a written, itemised quote before anything starts.

What's the first step?
A termite inspection, from $330 single storey or $350 two storey, with the report handed over on site.