Termites

Members of the Coptotermes genus are easily distinguished from other termites when the soldier is poked or lightly squeezed, upon which a white milky liquid is secreted from a specially modified pore (fontanelle) in the front of the head as a defence mechanism

Unlike other termites, drywood termites get their water from the timber they consume and therefore do not require contact with the soil. Because of this fact, their galleries are clean and free of soil. However there is one thing present that will give away that drywood termites caused the damage: the presence of dry, sesame seed-like frass (faeces) throughout the gallery system and on horizontal surfaces in close proximity to the infestation.

Porotermes adamsoni is one such dampwood termite associated with damaging timbers in houses and is found in the coastal belt and associated ranges from southern Queensland around to South Australia (including ACT) and also in Tasmania.