Nobody likes to have a termite infestation. Although many areas of the country will experience termite swarms in the spring, in locations where temperatures remain pleasant, termites can also surge in the fall.
But wherever you live, termites are good at hiding, and you may not know you have an infestation until its too late. If you notice the signs early on, you can get rid of termites more easily with help from local pest control experts.
If you suspect you may have termites or you’re worried about experiencing an infestation, we’re here to help. Here are nine warning signs you have termites. It’s time to say goodbye to these unwanted guests.
1. Discarded Termites Wings
One of the earliest and most obvious signs of termites is the presence of discarded or broken wings. When termites swarm to establish new colonies, the winged termites, known as swarmers or alates, shed their wings once they’ve found a suitable location to settle.
You’re most likely to find these wings near light sources like windowsills, door frames, or in spiderwebs. Swarming termites are often drawn to light, which is why their wings may accumulate in areas close to your home’s exterior lighting. If you spot these wings, it’s a clear sign that termites are nearby and potentially inside your home.
What to do next: If you find discarded wings indoors or near your home’s foundation, it’s time to call a professional pest control service immediately. They can inspect your property to determine if termites have infiltrated your home.
2. Frass: Termite Droppings That Look Like Sawdust
Frass, otherwise known as termite droppings, are also evidence of termites. Drywood termites live inside the wood, and when they make tunnels and eat the wood they’re nesting in, they leave droppings. Frass is pushed out of small holes close by to the entrance to the nest.
These droppings look like mounds of pellets that resemble black marks or a dark powdery substance.
Most frass is tiny, around one millimeter long. They often resemble sawdust or wood shavings, so make sure you don’t mistake one for the other.
Frass pellets can be found anywhere there is wood in the home, including attics.
Pro Tip: When inspecting frass, pay attention to its location. If you notice it near wood that looks otherwise intact, termites may be working inside the structure where you can’t see them.
3. Spotting Live Termites in Your Home
An unmistakable warning sign of an infestation is actually seeing termites in your home. Termites are small, soft-bodied insects with straight antennae and can vary in color from creamy white to brown. Depending on the species, they may have wings (swarmers) or be wingless (workers and soldiers).
Termite activity indoors usually means the infestation has progressed to a significant stage. You might see them near foundation cracks, crawl spaces, or structural wood. Flying termites are often a red flag that termites are either entering or leaving your home to establish a new colony.
Immediate Action: If you spot live termites, don’t wait. Contact a professional pest control company to perform a thorough inspection and recommend the best treatment options.
4. Mud Tubes: Subterranean Termites’ Pathways
Subterranean termites make mud tubes to move from the soil to their food, which could be your home. These narrow tunnels retain moisture and prevent the termites from drying out.
Usually, you can spot mud tubes around a termite’s home foundation.
Inspection Tip: Break open a mud tube and check for live termites. If the tube is active, you’ll see termites inside. Even if you don’t, it’s possible the termites are elsewhere in the structure.
5. Hollowed Out Wood
Termites feed on wood from the inside out, which can cause wood to sound hollow when tapped. If you notice areas of your home where wooden structures appear blistered, cracked, or are unusually soft, termites may be to blame.
Blistering wood often occurs when termites have eaten through the inner layers of a wooden structure, leaving only a thin outer shell. This type of damage is common in walls, floors, and support beams.
How to Check: Use the handle of a screwdriver to gently tap on wooden surfaces. If the wood sounds hollow or feels weak, it’s a good indicator that termites are present.
6. Exterior Wood Damage
Leading on from the last point, any wood that appears harmed on the surface could suggest a termite infestation. Bare, exposed, or rotted wood is attractive to termites.
Subterranean termites are especially drawn to moisture-damaged wood as it keeps them from drying out when they nest.
7. Uneven or Bubbling Paint
Does your paint look strange, such as uneven or bubbling? This is often a sign of a moisture build-up. And this could mean one of two things: water damage or a termite infestation.
What to Look For: Check for peeling paint, cracks, or unusual textures on walls near wood. Even small changes could point to hidden termite activity.
8. Outdoor Issues
If there are any small holes and wood shavings in the trees near your home, these could be signs of termite damage. Have a look around the base of the tree and try using a small shovel to poke around the roots just below the soil line. As mentioned earlier, you may spot other signs of a termite infestation such as discarded wings or dead termites littered around the base of the tree.
It’s easy to dismiss an outdoor termite infestation as unimportant as your home isn’t directly affected, but trees infested by termites can be dangerous. With serious damage, a tree could fall on your home or in your backyard or garden.
Likewise, an infestation of termites in trees outside your home means they could try to find a way to get inside.
Don’t Ignore the Outdoors: Regularly inspect trees, firewood piles, and outdoor wooden furniture for signs of termites. Taking preventative measures outside can help protect your home from an invasion.
9. Head Banging
Ever wondered what termites sound like? Well, termite soldiers make a quiet clicking noise from inside the walls. They do this by banging their heads against the wood, or by shaking their bodies.
Termite soldiers make this distinct noise to signal danger to other termites when the nest is alarmed or disturbed. Termites are sensitive critters and can identify vibrations and sounds using several organs at the base of their antennae and on the tibia.
The worker termites, which are the creatures that munch on your woodwork, are noisy feeders too. If you’re brave enough to put your ear close enough to any termite-infested wood, you can hear them gobbling away.
How to Listen: Put your ear close to suspected termite-infested wood. If you hear soft clicking sounds or faint rustling, it could be termites at work.
Understanding the Signs You Have Termites
If you’ve found signs you have termites, it’s important to call for professional help to remove the infestation. Here at Pegasus Pest, we’re here to help.
Our team are experts in discovering the signs of termites around your home and have the technology to uncover them even if there are no visible signs.
If a termite colony is found, our technicians will offer you recommendations for the suitable treatments available for your home.
Contact us for more information and arrange an inspection today if you believe you may have a termite infestation.
Why Acting Quickly is Crucial
Termites can cause extensive damage to your home’s structure, often costing homeowners thousands of dollars in repairs. That’s why it’s critical to act fast if you spot any of the signs mentioned above. The sooner you address the issue, the easier it will be to eliminate the infestation and prevent further damage.
Schedule a Termite Inspection Today
Official Pest Prevention is a family-owned, licensed pest control company celebrating 20 years serving over 100,000 satisfied customers in five area codes throughout Northern and Central California. Starting with a few contacts, and only four full-time employees, our small company has grown into an organization that today employs over 100 people, maintains a fleet of 75 vehicles, and has serviced over 100,000 Northern California households. This tremendous growth has come from loyal customers, who have recommended our work to their friends, family, and neighbors.
We are a full-service pest control company. Whatever your pest problem, we have a solution. Our goal is to make your property pest-free. Guaranteed. Contact us online or by phone (877) 711 2847 – for immediate assistance. Same-day bookings and flexible payment plans available – because pest invasions wait for no one.
