20/10/2026
Ever heard a neighbor warn you about "white ants" and wondered if they are different from subterranean termites? 🐜🪵
Here is the truth: "white ant" is just a common Australian nickname. Biologically, white ants are termites (and funnily enough, they are actually more closely related to cockroaches than true ants!).
Believing they are just another type of ant leads many property owners to make a costly mistake—treating them with off-the-shelf ant sprays from the supermarket.
Here is why that's dangerous and how to spot real termite activity:
🔍 Ants vs. Termites: True ants have narrow, pinched waists and bent antennae. Termites have straight, thick waists and straight, beaded antennae.
🚫 Why Ant Sprays Backfire: Dousing visible "white ants" with household bug spray might kill a dozen on contact, but it alerts the rest of the colony. The subterranean nest will immediately seal off that track, retreat, and start quietly eating a different section of your home.
💸 Zero Insurance Safety Net: Most standard home insurance policies in Australia do not cover termite or "white ant" damage, leaving homeowners solely responsible for structural repairs.
🛡️ Professional Barriers Work: Real protection requires non-repellent liquid soil treatments or monitoring bait stations that workers carry back to destroy the entire underground queen and colony.
If you have spotted pale, ant-like insects or mud tracks near your foundation, don't disturb them or spray them.
👉 Read the full article: 🔗
https://allstatepest.com.au/termites/white-ants-or-termites/