How to Tell If You Have a Termite Infestation Before It’s Too Late

Early detection is crucial for preventing costly and extensive damage from a termite infestation. Termites are often called “silent destroyers” because they can chew through wood, flooring, and even wallpaper undetected for years. Knowing what to look for can help you catch them before it’s too late.

Key Signs of a Termite Infestation

1. Termite Swarmers and Discarded Wings This is often one of the first and most obvious signs. “Swarmers” are winged, reproductive termites that leave the colony to mate and establish a new one.

Flying Termites: You might see swarms of flying insects, often mistaken for flying ants, emerging from inside or outside your home, especially during warm, humid weather.

Discarded Wings: After they mate, swarmers shed their wings. Finding small piles of translucent, discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or light sources is a strong indicator of an active infestation.

2. Mud Tubes Subterranean termites build mud tubes (also called “shelter tubes”) to travel between their underground colony and their food source (your home’s wood). These tubes protect them from predators and keep them from drying out.

Appearance: They are pencil-sized, brown, cylindrical structures made of soil, wood, and debris.

Location: Look for them on your home’s foundation, in crawl spaces, or along walls and support beams.

3. Damaged or Hollow-Sounding Wood Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin veneer of wood or paint.

Hollow Sound: Tap on wooden surfaces, such as walls, floors, or furniture, with the handle of a screwdriver. If a solid piece of wood sounds hollow or “papery,” it could be a sign of termite damage.

Visible Damage: Look for sunken or bubbling areas, maze-like patterns, or crumbling wood. Damage can also be hidden under paint or wallpaper.

4. Frass (Termite Droppings) Drywood termites, unlike their subterranean counterparts, don’t use their feces to build tunnels. Instead, they push their droppings, called frass, out of small holes near the entrances to their nests.

Appearance: Frass looks like tiny, wood-colored pellets, often resembling a small pile of sawdust or sand.

Location: Look for frass mounds near infested wooden structures like furniture, window sills, or door frames.

5. Other Subtle Clues

Stiff Windows and Doors: Termites’ tunneling can create moisture, causing wooden door and window frames to warp and become difficult to open or close

Bubbling or Flaking Paint: This can resemble water damage but without a clear water source. Termites tunneling through the drywall or wood underneath can cause the surface to blister or bubble.

Clicking Sounds: If you place your ear against a wall, you might hear a quiet clicking or rustling sound. This is the sound of soldier termites banging their heads against the wood to signal danger to the colony.

Musty Odor: A distinct, musty odor can indicate an environment with increased moisture from termite activity.

Termites vs. Ants

Termites are often mistaken for ants, especially flying ants. Here’s how to tell the difference:

Body Shape: Termites have a broad waist, while ants have a narrow, pinched waist.

Antennae: Termites have straight antennae, while ants have “elbowed” antennae that are bent at a 90-degree angle.

Wings: Flying termites have two pairs of wings that are equal in size and longer than their body. Flying ants have two pairs of wings that are different in size, with the front wings being longer than the hind wings.

What to Do If You Find Termites

If you suspect you have a termite infestation, it is critical to not disturb them. Do not use store-bought sprays or attempt to remove damaged wood. This can cause the termites to retreat and move to another, potentially harder-to-reach area of your home.

The best course of action is to contact a professional pest control company for an inspection and treatment plan. They have the expertise and tools to properly identify the species of termite and eradicate the entire colony. Regular professional inspections are also the best way to prevent future infestations.