Termites love dampness and particularly damp house Joists, Bearers & Flooring.

Most pest species in Australia are subterranean termites and need contact with the soil and moisture. Their nests may be visible as a mound, or be concealed underground, in damp timber or in a tree. From the nest, workers make subterranean tunnels, sometimes more than 50m long, to remote feeding sources. Where buildings are attacked there may be more than one entry point. Timbers vary in their susceptibility to attack, but those that are susceptible include both soft and hardwoods. Infested timber is often hollowed out.

Reference C.S.I.R.O.-entymology:

Most pest species in Australia are subterranean termites and need contact with the soil and moisture. Their nests may be visible as a mound, or be concealed underground, in damp timber or in a tree. From the nest, workers make subterranean tunnels, sometimes more than 50m long, to remote feeding sources. Where buildings are attacked there may be more than one entry point. Timbers vary in their susceptibility to attack, but those that are susceptible include both soft and hardwoods. Infested timber is often hollowed out.

Identification
Termite workers and soldiers resemble ants, but do not have the "waist" of an ant. Most termites are pale in colour, soldier caste with a darker head (although there are some pale ants too). Like ants, termites are social insects - they live in colonies. Some species build characteristic mounds, while many others live entirely underground. Termite species are commonly classed as either "subterranean", "drywood" or "dampwood" termites. Alate (winged) termites have dark, cylindrical bodies and four long, delicate wings which they shed after their mating flight. Australian pest species belong to the genera Coptotermes, Heterotermes, Nasutitermes, Schedorhinotermes and Mastotermes (the last in the tropics only).

Distribution
Australia-wide, but more diverse in timbered and northern (tropical) parts of the country.

Life history
Termites feed on cellulose in the form of living or dead plant tissue, such as timber, grass and man-made products like paper and cardboard. They live in colonies consisting of a the primary pair (queen & king) assisted by a large number of workers together with fewer soldiers which defend the colony from predators. Juveniles are also usually present. Certain, usually stormy weather conditions trigger mating flights in which male and female alates leave a parental nest to mate, disperse and establish new colonies.

Most pest species in Australia are subterranean termites and need contact with the soil and moisture. Their nests may be visible as a mound, or be concealed underground, in damp timber or in a tree. From the nest, workers make subterranean tunnels, sometimes more than 50m long, to remote feeding sources. Where buildings are attacked there may be more than one entry point. Timbers vary in their susceptibility to attack, but those that are susceptible include both soft and hardwoods. Infested timber is often hollowed out.

Pest Status
Damage to house frames may be expensive and need costly repairs; in the worst cases the house may be condemned. Subterranean termites are estimated to cost Australia $80-100 million/year in structural damage and associated pest management.