What Do Termites Sound Like?
If you’re worried that termites might be lurking in your property, you might find yourself listening closely against your walls and floors for any unusual sounds. Termites aren’t likely to be throwing a moving-in party to alert you to the fact that they’ve set up shop within your walls. They’re pretty quiet insects – which is largely why they go undetected in Australian homes and buildings for so long, sometimes even years, until a property can become so badly damaged it has to be demolished.
But what do termites sound like actually? They’re also shy, introverted creatures, who will do all they can to avoid you noticing them. Termite noises can be quite subtle and often get lost amid the everyday hustle and bustle of a busy home or office property.
That’s why it’s important to spend some time learning about what do termites sound like, the different types of termite noises and whether can you hear termites, so that you’re able to detect these telltale signs that there’s a termite nest or termite activity in proximity. And more importantly, helping you avoid extensive repairs and the stress of an infestation.
Termite Noises To Listen Out For:
In this blog, we’ll be covering answers to the question ‘what do termites sound like’, so you can determine when you need to call in the experts for a thorough inspection.
So, let’s find out the answer to the question ‘what do termites sound like?’.
Rattling (Or Head-Banging)
We did say termites aren’t the party type, and this isn’t the sort of headbanging you’d find in an insect rave. When threatened or irritated, soldier termites (the bodyguards of the termite colony) hit their heads against the walls of the tunnels within their nest to cause a rattling sound.
This headbanging sends vibrations through the tunnels to warn the rest of the colony of potential danger. Although, the rattling sound it causes can also be an early termite warning sign to you, and it’s one of the loudest termite noises you’re likely to hear, so listen out for it.
Clicking & Tapping
Rattling is a noise produced because of termite behaviour, but do termites make noises themselves? They do communicate with each other, but only through very faint clicking and tapping sounds, which can also be caused by the noise of them chewing through wood.
You might need to lift your ear against the wall or furniture where you’re suspicious of termite activity to hear this clicking, as it can be very difficult to detect. Pay attention to cats and dogs in your home, as their sensitive ears might make them better termite detectives than you. Early morning and during the night time is when you’re most likely to hear these termite noises, since they’re very light-sensitive creatures and prefer dark, damp conditions.
Flying Vibrations
In summer months, reproductive termites grow wings to enable them to leave their colony in search of a new nest. Often, flying termites can be mistaken for flying ants, and they might be easier to spot than to hear. You’ll be listening out for the rapid beating of their wings that causes a high-pitched whirring sound such as you might hear with bees and beetles.
If you do see or hear the vibrations of newly developed insect wings vibrating around your house, then most likely you either have an existing nest, or some curious flying termites looking for a new home, and it’s essential to deal with the problem straight away.
Chewing & Rustling
If you’re in a quiet household, with no music or ambient noise playing, you may be able to hear the slightly disconcerting sounds of termites eating or chewing through your wood, especially if it’s a larger colony and there are more jaws getting to work. Termite noises might sound like someone gently rustling paper.
However, this sound is often undetectable to human ears, which is why the team at Specialist Termite use specially-designed stethoscope-like devices to press against the wall and detect termite activity.
Hollow Wood Sounds
Though not technically termite noises, the sound of hollow wood can be a large indicator of a termite infestation on your property. Termites chew through wood as a food source and make tunnels within it until only the shell of the wood remains, rendering the furniture no longer structurally intact
If you knock on a door, wall, wooden beam or floorboard and there is a soft hollow sound, it’s definitely time to call in the professionals for a thorough investigation of where termite activity might be operating.
Final Word: Can You Hear Termites?
Compared to other household pests, such as wasps and mice, termites can be difficult to hear. You’re more likely to spot them by better understanding what termites look like rather than what do termites sound like. But, it’s not impossible to detect them by sound, if you know what noises you should be listening out for.
So – do termites make noises? Yes and no. Can you hear termites? It depends on your property situation. They won’t alert you of their presence through sound, but there can be giveaway clicking, rattling, chewing and vibration sounds that tell you a termite colony is near.
You’re more likely to notice the signs of termites rather than see or hear the insects themselves. In fact, sometimes damage can be carried out in such secrecy that it’s simply impossible to know termite activity is taking place within a property without expert, professional assistance. That’s why we recommend an annual termite inspection and pre-purchase inspections, to not only assess the presence of termites but also the risk of future infestation so that preventive measures can be carried out.
The bad news is that if you can hear termite activity, you likely already have a serious problem on your hands. The good news? We know how to exterminate termites and take care of them.
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Contact us or give us a call at 1300 695 949 today, if you wish to learn more about what do termites sound like and better yet for a reliable service you can trust. We’ve been treating termite damage and eliminating termite nests for over 25 years in the Melbourne area, so Specialist Termite Control knows exactly how to handle these determined, detrimental troublemakers, and save you from the emotional and financial burden of paying for the damage they cause.
