Often referred to as white ants, termites are insects which devour wood and most cellulose-containing materials like cardboard, paper, etc. There are significant variations in the colour, shape, and size of termites depending upon the species, but they are all characterised by certain similarities. These critters fall under the order Isoptera and are closely related to cockroaches on the evolutionary scale.
Despite their name white ant, they bear no relation to the ant family and wreak havoc on a majority of Australian homes. The key to lowering the cost of termite-related repairs is to conduct frequent termite inspections to detect problems early.