Can Termites Survive Winter And Where Do They Go?

Can Termites Survive Winter And Where Do They Go?

Just like you, termites seek shelter from cold temperatures to survive. Generally, termites are the most active in the warm season due to high human activity. But the bad news is that termites stay active year-round and may invade your home in the cold season as well.

Where do termites go in the winter?

In the cold season, termites tend to live inside your home or underground, where the moisture and temperature levels are in a comfortable range. These tiny creatures can burrow as deep as a metre below the surface level and create mud tunnels on surfaces like walls to protect themselves against freezing temperatures and predators.

The indoor activity of termites in winter

Typically, termites don't move indoors when the cold season begins, as they are already in your home. However, since your house may offer warmth, wood and water, termites can stay in your home as these conditions make an ideal gateway for these creatures.

You may find termite colonies in your crawl space, basements and other places where temperatures are around 30 degrees.

The outdoor activity of termites in the winter

In winter, many insects use survival strategies to survive cold temperatures rather than go into hibernation. Cold temperatures can reduce termite activity in winter, but it can't kill or drive these creatures away. Instead, cold temperatures force these insects to go underground or find shelter inside hollow spaces, such as your house.

Subterranean termites, for instance, take their colonies underground. Therefore, they tend to dig deeper to find warmer ground based on how cold it's outside.

Dampwood and dry wood termites find shelter in trees or old stumps. If you have firewood outside your house, chances are that it may already have termites in it.

What are the signs of having termites in your home during the winter?

Below are some signs you should look for to find out if you have termites in your house.

  • Inspect your masonry, wooden walls or bare concrete for mud tubes the diameter of a pencil.
  • Examine your floor, countertops and windowsills for thin, papery wings, especially during late spring.
  • Inspect wooden surfaces for distorted or "bubbled" paint areas. Touch these areas to find out if they feel cool.
  • Inspect other wooden parts of your house for "saggy" areas.

If you find any of these signs, chances are that you have a termite activity in your home.

Is treating termites in the winter needed?

Termites are on the list of pests that don't hibernate when the outside temperatures drop significantly. Instead, they tunnel deep into the foundation of your home to find shelter and feed 24/7. Unfortunately, these creatures can cause severe damage to your property in winter.

Therefore, we suggest you treat termites to protect your property and avoid expensive repair costs down the road. FYI, termite infestation is not covered by insurance!

FAQs

Can termites survive winter? Although termites stay active during winter, they have to struggle to survive. Since these insects are cold-blooded, they rely on their surroundings to remain warm enough to survive the cold season. When temperatures are below zero degrees, termites look for shelters, such as underground tunnels in a house or wooden logs.

When the temperatures drop below the freezing point, termites dig deep tunnels and live underground in the form of a colony. Most termites spend their entire lifespan in these tunnels. However, workers move in and out in search of a food source: wood.

In winter, worker termites bore through wood, or they tend to dig deep enough to expand the colony. Additionally, workers are responsible for looking for food. The hardworking termites eat food and leave behind tunnels. Besides, they carry the wood back to the colony to feed the reproductive members and soldiers.

As time goes by, termites keep on causing damage to the wooden structure they eat during winter. At the same time, reproductive termites produce more workers adding to the colony size.

Do termites die in the winter? Extreme temperatures can kill termites. In winter, if termites get too cold, they may freeze to death. But termites can maintain their body temperatures in outdoor nests deep enough to provide warmth for termite colonies.

According to the National Association of Steel Framed Houses Inc, termites cause property damage between $80 and 780 million yearly in Australia.Therefore, you may want to check your house for early signs of termites. You can follow the tips below:

Β 

  • Examine your home for excrement that looks like sawdust expelled by termites when they clean their tunnels
  • Look for thin termite wings around the access points
  • Examine wood surfaces for long grooves caused by termites chewing
  • Inspect your wooden floors for signs of blistering due to termites burrowing
  • Look for pencil-like mud tunnels on walls built by termites for shelter.

Β 

Termite queens keep laying eggs throughout the year. The egg production rate may vary based on the queen's age and species. In temperate climate regions where winter temperatures drop below zero degrees, queens may stop laying eggs until temperatures go up again.

If you want to eliminate termites from your house in winter, we suggest look at the EnviroBug Termite Ninja - the kit includes everything you need to attract and destroy a termite colony.

Since these insects don't usually hibernate in winter, they need enough warmth to survive freezing temperatures in winter. So, termites rely on their environment to stay warm and well-fed. They will die if exposed to freezing temperatures without shelter.

So, you can follow this article to identify pest infestation in your house and take the steps to eliminate these creatures.

Β 

Products

sale
Termite Ninja - Ultimate DIY Termite Eradication System - Envirobug
Termite Ninja - Ultimate DIY Termite Eradication System from $297.00 $349.00
Get professional grade protection – but save 80% to 90% vs. paying an exterminator (Save over $4,000 for a large house) How Does the Termite Ninja Stack Up? Termite Ninja Traditional Exterminator Setup cost One-off kit purchase $2,000–$5,000+ treatment Annual monitoring $0 β€” you do it yourself $900+ per inspection Treatment cost Cost of killer bait only $2,000–$4,000+ Chemicals APVMA-approved IGR β€” harmless to humans and animals Often broad-spectrum soil chemicals - these can be toxic to both humans and pets. Flexibility Walls, ground, in-ground, stumps, patios Ground-only in most systems Lock-in None β€” your system, your schedule Annual contracts standard Termites cause more damage to Australian homes than fires, floods and storms combined β€” and the traditional answer is an exterminator who charges $900 a year just to look around and thousands more to treat. The Termite Ninja changes that equation entirely. Professional-grade monitoring, attraction and colony eradication β€” installed by you in minutes, owned by you permanently, with no ongoing fees and no locked-in contracts. We've never had a kit returned. Not one in 18 years. Safe for families. Devastating for colonies. APVMA-approved, harmless to humans and pets β€” catastrophic for the colony. Where Can I Install It? Termite Ninja is the only system that allows you to directly install termite bait stations to monitor and treat termites anywhere – not just on the ground. On walls β€” where mud tubes or damage is visible On the ground β€” around the full perimeter of your home In the ground β€” buried in-ground stations for perimeter interception On stumps β€” a favourite entry point for subterranean termites On patios and hardstand β€” anywhere termites have been spotted or are likely to travel. Termite Ninja Monitor Bait Traps are More Functional and Adaptable to Your Needs: How It Works The Termite Ninja runs on three phases: 1. Monitor β€” Specially prepared bait stations containing fresh wood and pure cellulose tablets are installed around your property's perimeter and anywhere termite activity is suspected. Termites are hardwired to seek cellulose. They find your stations before they find your home. 2. Detect β€” Check each station through the clear viewing window without touching or opening it. No disturbance, no false alarms, no tools. Just look. 3. Eradicate β€” When activity is confirmed, use the innovative stacking system to apply killer bait directly above the active station without scaring off the feeding termites. Workers carry chlorfluazuron IGR (a safe, non-toxic growth inhibitor) back to the nest, share it through natural colony behaviour, and the queen dies. Colony collapse follows. No guessing. No approximation. Bait applied directly where termites are active β€” like a ninja, right to the source. And they never saw it coming. Key Features Install Anywhere Termites Go β€” The only DIY system that lets you place bait stations on walls, on the ground, in the ground, on stumps and on patios. Not just ground-level. Everywhere termites travel. Saves Up to 80–90% vs. Professional Treatment β€” A large home can save over $4,000 in treatment costs and $900 every single year in inspection fees. The kit pays for itself almost immediately. Stacking System β€” The Game Changer β€” The innovative stacking design lets you apply killer bait directly above an active station without opening it or disturbing the termites feeding inside. This is the detail that makes the difference between termites staying and termites leaving. Clear Viewing Window β€” Monitor every station with a visual check, no tools, no disturbance. See exactly what's happening inside without touching a thing. Ant-Proof Design β€” Specifically designed to exclude ants. What you find inside is termites β€” not a false positive colony of black ants that wasted your time. Reusable Tough ABS Plastic β€” Built to last years of outdoor exposure, ground contact and weather. Can Be Painted to Match Your Home β€” Wall-mounted stations blend into your exterior. No eyesore, no visible pest control hardware on your facade. Everything Included β€” Full complement of cellulose attractant and killer bait powder included with your kit. Step-by-step installation guide and video delivered immediately by email after purchase. Safe. APVMA Approved. β€” Chlorfluazuron IGR at 1% per kg of pure cellulose. Completely harmless to humans, kids, pets and native wildlife. Devastating to termites. What's in the Kit Every kit contains all of these components - see the below table for the number of each included with each kit size: Termite Ninja multi-purpose ABS bait stations All assembly components β€” ready to install out of the box An equal number of specially prepared timber attractant and cellulose tablets - to attract termites Chlorfluazuron IGR Killer Bait powder sachet/s - to kill termites Immediate email delivery of step-by-step installation guide and video tutorials Additional attractant tablets and killer bait powder available separately as needed. Package Includes 4 Station 12 Station 18 Station 24 Station 36 Station Bait Station Boxes 4 12 18 24 36 Lid Kits 4 12 18 24 36 Indicator Dowels 4 12 18 24 36 Cellulose Bait Tablets 4 12 18 24 36 Wooden Termite Baits 4 12 18 24 36 Killer Bait Powder Treatments 1 2 3 4 5 User Manual βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ Phone & Email Support βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ βœ“ Not sure which size to choose? Measure your perimeter in metres and divide by three β€” that's your minimum station count. Add one or two spares for killer bait treatments. When in doubt, size up. A gap in your perimeter is the only thing a termite needs.
Quick View
sale
DIY Termite Killer Bait Powder Replacement - Envirobug
Termite Ninja - Killer Bait Powder Replacement from $75.00 $322.00
You've spotted termite activity in your Termite Ninja station. Now you need the one thing that takes a detection event and turns it into a colony collapse. This is the APVMA-approved killer bait powder that worker termites consume, carry back to the nest and share β€” all the way to the queen. No poisons. No chemicals harmful to humans or animals. Just a growth regulator that shuts the colony down from the inside out. Killer bait only β€” Termite Ninja stations sold separately. Shop the Termite Ninja DIY System here.Β  How the Bait Works The killer bait contains chlorfluazuron β€” a termite growth regulator (IGR) at 1% per kg of pure cellulose. Worker termites consume it, but it doesn't kill them instantly. Instead it weakens their jaw structure, rendering them unable to eat. As food becomes scarce in the colony, termites turn cannibalistic β€” and the living termites begin consuming those that have already ingested the growth regulator. The IGR passes vertically through the colony, termite to termite, until it reaches the queen. Colony collapse follows. This is the same mechanism professional exterminators use β€” without the thousands of dollars in fees, the annual contracts, or the chemical soil treatments. Key Features Takes Out the Whole Colony, Not Just What You Can See β€” Growth regulator passes from termite to termite through natural colony behaviour, ultimately reaching and eliminating the queen. One application, complete eradication. The Same Active Ingredient Professionals Use β€” APVMA-approved chlorfluazuron IGR at professional strength. No watered-down DIY formula β€” the real thing, available to you directly. Safe for Humans, Pets and Native Wildlife β€” Chlorfluazuron is specifically targeted at termite biology. Completely harmless to humans, animals and the broader environment at the rate used. No Use-By Date β€” Provided it's kept sealed and dry, this bait has an indefinite shelf life. Stock up without worrying about waste. Available in 2, 5 or 10 Packs β€” 100g per sachet. Match your pack size to the scale of activity across your Termite Ninja stations. Designed for the Termite Ninja Stacking System β€” Applied via EnviroBug's innovative stacking method, which places the bait directly above an active station without disturbing the termites inside β€” critical for keeping them feeding. When to Apply the Killer Bait Apply Killer Bait as soon as you observe termite activity inside a Termite Ninja station β€” indicated by mud tubes, frass, or visible termite presence through the clear monitoring window.Β  Tip: Speed matters once you've detected activity. The sooner the bait is applied, the sooner worker termites begin carrying it back to the colony. Don't wait for activity to intensify before acting. How to Apply Confirm activity β€” Check your station's clear viewing window for signs of termite presence Assemble a treatment station β€” Prepare a new Termite Ninja station with a sachet of Killer Bait inside Stack it on top β€” Place the treatment station directly above the active one using the stacking system β€” this delivers bait without opening or disturbing the active station Monitor regularly β€” Check every 1–2 weeks for ongoing activity and reapply if needed Look for colony collapse β€” Activity will slow and eventually cease as the IGR works through the colony to the queen
Quick View
sale
Pure Cellulose Termite Bait Unit Attractant - Envirobug
Pure Cellulose Termite Attractant Tablets from $25.00 $50.00
Your Termite Ninja stations work because termites find the bait inside them impossible to ignore. Pure cellulose is the gold standard termite attractant β€” the same material their colonies depend on for survival. These replacement tablets keep every station in your perimeter fresh, active and drawing termites toward your system and away from your walls, floors or joinery. Why Pure Cellulose? Not all timber attractants are equal. Pure cellulose tablets are specifically processed to maximise termite attraction β€” stripped of the resins and compounds that might deter feeding, leaving only what termites are hardwired to seek out. It's the most attractive form of cellulose you can put in a station, and that distinction matters when your home is what you're protecting. Cellulose attractant tablets only β€” killer bait powder and Termite Ninja stations sold separately. Shop Killer Bait Powder here. Shop the Termite Ninja System here.Β  Key Features Maximum Attraction. Minimum Interference. β€” Pure cellulose tablets contain nothing that deters feeding β€” no resins, no preservatives, no compounds that signal danger to a foraging termite. Just irresistible attractant, working around the clock. Keeps Your Perimeter Hot Year-Round β€” Fresh tablets restore every station's drawing power the moment they're installed. An active, stocked perimeter pulls termites toward your system β€” not toward your home. No Active Chemicals. Safe for Everyone. β€” Pure attractant only, with no toxins, no poisons and no risk to humans, kids, pets or native wildlife.Β  Available in 3, 6, 9 and 12 Packs β€” Match your pack size to the number of stations you're running. Works Seamlessly with the Full Termite Ninja System β€” Drop-in replacement for ground, wall, stump, in-ground and patio stations. When to Replace Your Tablets Tablets inside a station appear consumed, reduced or dried out It has been 3–6 months since your last replacement depending on activity level You're heading into spring and summer when termite foraging intensifies A station has just been treated with killer bait and you're returning it to monitoring mode Tip: After confirming colony collapse following a killer bait treatment, replace tablets and return the station to monitoring mode immediately. Even though a collapsed colony won’t come back, neighbouring termite colonies can move into vacated territory β€” a restocked, active perimeter keeps them from claiming it. How to Replace Your Tablets Check each station through the clear viewing window before opening Open only inactive stations β€” never disturb a station showing active termite feeding Remove spent or exhausted tablets from the station housing Insert fresh cellulose tablets from your refill pack Close and return the station to its installed position Monitor regularly β€” check weekly or fortnightly if you have an infestation. Check every 4–8 weeks in active season, every 8–12 weeks in cooler months
Quick View
Termite Ninja Refill Packs - Envirobug
Termite Ninja - Attractant Refill Packs from $69.00
You've already done the hard work β€” your Termite Ninja stations are in the ground, on the walls, around the perimeter. Now all you need is fresh timber bait to keep them actively attracting. These refill packs give you everything required to restock your monitoring stations and keep your perimeter working year-round, without calling an exterminator or paying for a single inspection. Timber attractant refill only β€” killer bait and Termite Ninja stations sold separately. Shop Killer Bait Powder here. Shop the Termite Ninja System here.Β  Why Keep Your Stations Stocked? An empty or exhausted bait station is a station that isn't attracting. Termites need a live, active timber bait source to be drawn in and begin feeding β€” once the bait is consumed or dried out, your station becomes passive. Regular restocking keeps every station in your perimeter hot, active and pulling termites toward your detection system rather than toward your home. Key Features Keeps Your Perimeter Active and Attracting β€” Fresh specially prepared timber bait restores your stations' drawing power, ensuring termites are lured toward your system before they find their way into your walls, floors or stumps. No Exterminator. No Inspection Fee. Ever. β€” Restock your own stations in minutes. No contractor, no annual inspection contract, no $900 fee just to check what you can check yourself through the clear viewing window. Specially Prepared Timber Bait β€” EnviroBug's recycled timber bait is specifically prepared to be irresistible to termites β€” not just any wood. It's the right material, prepared the right way, to maximise attraction in every station. Compatible with the Full Termite Ninja System β€” Designed exclusively for EnviroBug Termite Ninja bait stations. Drop-in replacement that works seamlessly with your existing setup β€” ground, wall, stump and in-ground stations. Safe for Humans, Pets and Native Wildlife β€” Pure cellulose timber bait with no active chemicals in the monitoring phase. Nothing toxic, nothing harmful β€” just a timber attractant that termites can't resist. Available in Multiple Pack Sizes β€” Match your pack size to the number of stations you're running. Keep spares on hand. When to Restock Your Stations Separate to monthly checks for termite activity, you should thoroughly check your stations every 3–6 months by opening them up and looking at the state of the wooden and cellulose tablet baits. This is especially the case as you're heading into warmer months (when termite activity peaks). Specifically, you should replace your baits when: The timber bait or cellulose tablets inside the station appear consumed, reduced or has got wet You've recently treated an active station and want to return it to monitoring mode Tip: After a successful treatment with killer bait and confirmed colony collapse, restock your stations with fresh timber attractant, cellulose tablets and return them to monitoring mode β€” termites from neighbouring colonies can move in to fill the territory within 12 months. How to Restock Your Stations Check each station through the clear viewing window for signs of activity before restocking Open inactive stations that show no current termite presence Remove spent or exhausted timber bait and replace with fresh attractant from your refill pack Close and return the station to its installed position Monitor regularly β€” every 4–8 weeks during active season, every 8–12 weeks in cooler months
Quick View

Designed for Australian Conditions

Eco-friendly

No poisons

12 month warranty

30 Day

satisfaction guarantee

Afterpay American Express Apple Pay Google Pay Shop Pay Visa Mastercard