Termites
Just the thought strikes fear into most home owners, and with research showing that the chances of your home being attacked are about one in four during some stage of its life (50 years is the expected life of a house). With odds like these it's no wonder termites are a firm ratings favourite with current affairs shows.
Now For Some Facts
There are over 350 types of termites in Australia, but in South East Queensland there are only about 6 species that commonly attack houses.
There are 3 main groups of termites, Subterranean, Damp wood and Dry wood. The ones that do the most damage to houses are classified as subterranean; they have large nests with hundreds of thousands of termites and mostly stay in contact with the ground to obtain moisture.
Subterranean termites are similar to bees in that they have a main nest, and in that nest there is a queen whose sole purpose is to lay eggs. Some termites care for the young, others protect the nest while others go out and look for food, which may include your home.
There is no such thing as white ants - termites are more closely related to cockroaches but live in communal colonies with similar habits to ants.
Termites have been around since the dinosaurs so they know how to adapt and survive. Anyone who thinks they know it all, or claim to be termite experts are fooling themselves and you.
Even brick and steel framed houses can be attacked by termites as there is nearly always timber somewhere, skirtings, around windows or even furnishings. The acidic mud packing termites build around their workings can rust galvanised steel 
house framing.
