Nasutitermes dixoni and Nasutitermes fumigatus are Australian termites from the Termitidae family. Unlike the notorious Coptotermes species, they’re generally less aggressive toward homes, but they can still cause damage if they get into timber structures.
While less aggressive than subterranean termites, it’s still important to watch for early signs of either species to protect your home.
Being a slower, stealthier-moving termite, damage is likely to go unnoticed for some time, so contact a termite specialist as soon as you spot any of these signs on your Melbourne property.
Call 1300 695 949 for your free termite removal assessment!
Nasutitermes dixoni and Nasutitermes fumigatus are commonly found in dead and decaying timber, stumps and trees in Melbourne’s temperate climate. Dixoni has a habit of constructing nests in mature trees (mainly eucalypts and other native gums) that line older established streets, parks and gardens.
Whilst fumigatus has a preference for more secluded, hidden and protected areas, such as hollow branches, fallen timber and timber piles making its presence more difficult to detect before damage becomes apparent.
Inside these ‘sites’, both species construct protected nests and a humid microclimate that are vital for the survival of a colony. Feeding tunnels are excavated from the nest into the surrounding timber structures, such as garden fences and outdoor furniture, and in some cases the timber in our homes, quietly inflicting damage.
While Nasutitermes dixoni and Nasutitermes fumigatus are often thought of as “tree termites,” their ability to feed on timber means they can pose a risk to Melbourne properties. Dixoni builds discrete nests in mature eucalypts, such as Eucalyptus goniocalyx, Eucalyptus macrorhyncha, and Eucalyptus rubida, as well as other native gums and ornamental trees. Fumigatus prefers more hidden locations, nesting in hollow branches, fallen timber, or timber piles, which makes infestations easy to overlook.
From these nests, colonies extend networks of tunnels into nearby timber structures. Garden fences, outdoor furniture, pergolas, and even sections of your home’s exposed timber can be quietly eaten away over months or years. Because their activity is slow and concealed, the damage often accumulates unnoticed, leaving weakened timber and costly repairs by the time it’s detected.
Properties with mature trees or timber structures are especially vulnerable. Early detection and monitoring are key to catching Nasutitermes activity.
Airborne fine wood particles and excrement present in termite droppings (frass) trigger allergies, skin irritation, nasal congestion and asthma particularly in vulnerable individuals. Long-term contact with termites can intensify respiratory disease symptoms while presenting a significant threat to indoor air quality.
Termite damage creates an environment where moisture gets trapped in timber, which leads to mould and mildew growth. Serious respiratory diseases such as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis result from these exposures. Children, along with elderly adults and people whose immune systems are weakened face the greatest risk from mould spores.
Termites cause silent structural damage to buildings. Untreated deteriorating timber strength makes walls, floors, and supports unstable, which leads to genuine collapse risks.
When it comes to Nasutitermes fumigatus and Nasutitermes dixoni, effective protection begins with a detailed property inspection. These species often build arboreal nests high in trees, with soil-covered foraging tubes stretching down to the forest floor or across to nearby structures. Because of this behaviour, our inspections focus on mature trees, garden areas, fencelines, and timber elements that may provide concealed access routes.
If termite activity is detected, we implement targeted treatments to disrupt the colony and cut off foraging paths into your property. For long-term protection, we also install specialist monitoring systems designed to pick up early warning signs of Nasutitermes activity (whether in trees, soil, or structural timbers).
By pairing local expertise with advanced monitoring technology, we ensure your property remains safeguarded against these persistent, tree-nesting termites.
With over 30 years of experience and more than 10,000 successful inspections, we are Melbourne’s trusted pest and termite inspection specialists. All this has led to us being awarded the National Specialist Pest Manager Of The Year and Victorian Pest Manager of the Year. As a fully licensed, accredited and insured, local family-run company, we have a deep understanding of Victoria’s environment and are committed to your termite protection.
With 35 years of experience, we’ve had exposure to over 3 decades of termites. Our team of fully insured, accredited and licensed termite treatment experts have successfully handled 1000+ termite jobs during this time. All this has led to us being awarded Pest Manager Of The Year in Victoria, proving that we know our stuff.
But don’t just take our word for it. See why our loyal customers choose us over the competition:
Think you have spotted termites in your home?
Use our free and easy to use online termite assessment tool to determine whether you have a termite infestation. Afterwards, if you’re still unsure, contact our termite removal experts and we’ll provide you with a free termite assessment at your property.
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As these two species prefer decaying timber found on the forest floor, their discovery is more often found in fences and retaining walls where these materials replicate their natural food sources. The difficulty with the management of these species is that they tend to react poorly to baiting methods and due to their more robust exoskeleton and the slower transfer process between foraging and colony.
Therefore, a reliance on chemical application to manage infestation can reduce the efficacy or even treatment at all. Careful treatment methods are required, if at all with the removal of the affected timber often a viable option.
Living in a leafy suburb with big, established trees? That’s prime territory for Nasutitermes colonies, which often nest high in the canopy before foraging down toward nearby homes.
Book a free termite risk assessment with our local experts.
An inspection now can help protect your home from costly damage later, and give you peace of mind knowing you’ve cut off one of the most common entry points for Nasutitermes fumigatus and Nasutitermes dixoni.
Call us on 1300 695 949 and put a stop to termites!
As part of our commitment to provide the most up-to-date advice for property owners about termites, we regularly update our blog with tips, tricks and termite guides that you can follow to stay protected property. Explore our most recent termite advice and guides below!
Look for dark, mud-like foraging tubes running down trees, across the ground, or along walls. You might also see dome-shaped nests up in the canopy of trees around your property.
Not necessarily. While they’re more common in leafy suburbs and properties with lots of mature trees, they can forage quite a distance from the nest site. If you have trees on or near your property, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out.
Try to keep timber off the ground, remove stumps, have good airflow under your house and, most importantly, get regular professional termite inspections (particularly if you’re surrounded by mature trees).
A licensed termite technician will try to find the nest and foraging routes, and advise on a treatment program to suit. This may include a direct nest eradication treatment, soil barriers, or installing monitoring stations to ensure the whole colony is eradicated.
