Rounded tree nests
A visible arboreal nest can be an important field clue, particularly when combined with suitable termite specimens for identification.
SYDNEY TREE TERMITE GUIDE
Nasutitermes walkeri
A tree-nesting termite found in eastern Australia and Sydney coastal bushland, with a different property context from the major subterranean building pests.A termite people may notice in trees
NSW educational material identifies Nasutitermes walkeri as a tree termite found in Sydney coastal bushland. It can build rounded nests on trees and is mainly associated with stressed trees, dead wood, poles and timber on the ground.
The same NSW source notes that this species rarely attacks buildings. That distinction matters: seeing a termite nest in a nearby tree does not by itself prove that the house is infested.
Trees and dead timber
NSW material associates the species with stressed trees, dead wood, poles and timber lying on the ground.
Different risk context
The species can attract attention because its nests are conspicuous, but it is reported as only rarely attacking buildings.
Part of the natural landscape
Termites also play an ecological role by breaking down plant material, and their activity in trees can contribute over time to the formation of hollows used by other animals.
Should a tree nest near a home be removed?
Not automatically. The decision should consider the termite species, the tree, its condition, the distance and relationship to structures, and whether there is evidence of termite activity in or around the building. A visible nest is useful information, but it is not a complete building assessment.
If a building report, inspection or homeowner observation has raised a termite concern, a termite inspection should focus on the structure and accessible risk factors rather than assuming the visible tree nest is the cause.