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The common name for numerous species of social insects that can damage wooden structures such as furniture or houses. Of about 2000 known species, most are distributed in tropical countries and some inhabit the temperate regions. Termites are sometimes referred to as 'white ants' because of their creamy colouring and ant-like appearance. There are over 350 species of termites in Australia of which some 20 species can damage timber in houses. In nature, they assist in the recycling of organic matter and nutrients back to the soil.

 

Termites avoid light and rarely come out into the open. Often they are found within timbers where they leave a wafer thin layer to protect themselves from the outside environment. Sometimes they conceal themselves within mud-like tubes or galleries.

 Spiders are invertebrates with a two part body (cephalo thorax and abdomen), biting chelicerae and silk glands that discharge through spinnerets. They have 4 pairs of legs and additional pair of short appendages (pedipalps) beside the chelicerae. Eight is not only the number of legs spiders have. The original spiders and most still have eight eyes and if that is not enough spiders still live today which have the original complement of eight spinnerets.

There are 16 different families of fleas worldwide, consisting of about 2380 species. In Australia 9 of these families are represented with just 90 different species. About half of the endemic species that occur in Australia are found in the Pygiopsyllidae family. The Pulicidae family contains many of the introduced fleas such as the cat, dog and human flea, as well as some native species. Follow the links below to find out more about the different families of fleas. Those in bold represent the flea families present in Australia.

The insects most beneficial to humans are found in the large insect order Hymenoptera. Not only are the bees and many of their relatives pollinators of flowering plants, including fruits and vegetables, but thousands of species of small wasps are parasites of other arthropods including pest insects. Without these parasites that limit the growth of insect populations, pests would overtake most crops.

Wasps are a diverse group of insects. In Australia alone there are over 12,000 species, ranging from the tiny diapriid wasps, which are barely visible to the naked eye, to the spider and cicada-killer wasps, capable of taking large prey. Most wasps have carnivorous larvae that feed on other insects and spiders. The adults provide food for them by capturing prey or by laying the egg on or near the food source, which might be an egg, larva or pupa of another insect.

Carpet beetles damage fabrics, furnishings and clothing that contain wool, silk, hair, bristles, fur, or feathers. Synthetic items are resistant to attack, but mixtures of synthetic and natural fibres can be damaged. The natural habitats of carpet beetles are nests of birds, rodents, insects, and spiders. The beetles are pollen feeders and can be found in large numbers in flowers; they can be brought into the house in cut flowers.

Although less common than carpet beetles, clothes moths are commonly experienced in similar environments to carpet beetles, namely woollen materials, felt, fur and other materials of animal origin.

The two most common species of clothes moths are the case making clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) and the common clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella).

Red Imported Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta, is a serious new pest which has been detected in Queensland, Australia. They inflict a painful sting. They are the greatest ecological threat to Australia since the introduction of the rabbit and are potentially worse than the cane toad.

The fruiting bodies of wood decay vary in size, shape and colour. The type of fungi encountered by pest inspectors usually reside in poorly ventilated sub floors, below wet areas of the home, exterior timbers and in areas that retain water in the soil. The durability and type of timbers are factors along with the temperature and environment.

The fruiting bodies of wood decay fungi vary in size, shape and colour. The type of fungi encountered by building inspectors & pest controllers usually reside in poorly ventilated sub-floors, below wet areas of the home, exterior timbers and in areas that retain water in the soil. The durability and type of timbers are factors along with the temperature and environment. Destruction of affected timbers varies with the symptoms involved.

This spider makes holes in the ground mostly in drier areas than those favoured by the Sydney funnelweb, spider. Holes in the ground are often in open situations. While it will bite if provoked no fatalities have been recorded.

This spider is one of the most often encountered around houses and buildings. It makes its webs around windows and under eaves and in bark fissures of trees. The entrance tunnel is usually in the centre of the web. The bite can be painful, but there have been no fatalities.

The female Sydney funnelweb spider makes web lined funnels in the ground usually in rockeries and deep surface mulches. She is a toxic spider, but not considered to be as toxic as the male. Both male and female are nocturnal.