Homeowners in the U.S. experience termite infestations each year. Could you be one of the unlucky few? This guide covers everything you should know about how to identify termites, including termite activity, signs of their presence, how to spot damaged wood, and how much it costs to repair termite damage. We surveyed homeowners to get an up-to-date understanding on how well-versed homeowners are at spotting termites, plus other insights.
How to Identify Termites: Evidence of Termites
Termites are present around just about every property; most of the time, they keep to themselves. The problem begins when they identify your home as food — they won’t leave without a fight. In our survey, we asked homeowners if they can identify termites. 54% said yes, they can identify termites, or so they believe.
Unfortunately, termite activity is often difficult to spot. That’s why some pest control professionals refer to them as ‘silent destroyers.’ Some termite colonies can thrive for years without being detected, which puts you and your loved ones in danger.
But take heart! You don’t have to stress about termites forever. You may be able to notice the signs of termites before they develop into a full-blown infestation.
The following signs may indicate you have an active termite infestation:
- Termite swarmers: This is one of the early warning signs of a termite problem. Flying termite swarmers, also called termite alates, are reproductive termites that establish new colonies. You’re more likely to see swarmers during the spring. Keep in mind dead swarmers are also a telltale sign of an active colony, especially discarded wings around doors and windowsills.
- Termite exit holes: These tiny holes are less than 1/8 an inch in size. You can usually spot them around baseboards, walls, and ceilings, although you may also want to check old wooden floors. Exit holes indicate the presence of flying termites, which suggests that an older, more mature colony is taking up space inside your home.
- Mud shelter tubes: Also referred to as ‘mud tubes’ or ‘mud tunnels,’ these are tiny soil-like ‘stalactites’ that run from the soil to a food source. Most people spot mud tunnels around exterior walls, although you may find them around other wooden structures, such as greenhouses and outdoor furniture. Remember that subterranean termites are the most common termite species that build mud tunnels — spotting several large tunnels around your home could indicate a serious infestation.
- Termite droppings. Keep an eye out for termite frass (or fine termite droppings), which indicate an active termite infestation.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of termite infestation signs. Depending on the species, the types of pests inside your home may be more or less obvious. Only 34% of homeowners regularly (at least once a year), perform a visual inspection for termites in & around their home. The more often you examine the inside and outside of your home, the faster you’ll notice something out of the ordinary.
What’s more, while only 34% of homeowners regularly perform a visual inspection, over half (58%) of homeowners have never scheduled a professional termite inspection and 32% have no plan to! It’s understandable in some ways, considering 54% of homeowners can identify termites, but as we mentioned, termites can go undetected for months or even years to the untrained eye.
Whether or not you have noticed one or more warning signs of termites, you should schedule a termite inspection at your earliest convenience with a pest control professional.
What Do Termite Mud Tubes Look Like?
As mentioned earlier, termite mud tubes allow for transportation between a termite’s food source and the colony. They’re usually the product of subterranean termites, as they prefer to scout and hunt in as safe an environment as possible.
There are three different types of mud tubes to consider: drop tubes, exploratory tubes, and working tubes.
- Drop tubes: Termite drop tubes look a lot like stalagmites since they connect the termite colony on the ground to a wood/food source. You’ll typically find mud tubes in your basement or crawl space, although they can also appear inside your house.
- Exploratory tubes: These larger tunnels branch in multiple directions and can grow up to 15 feet in size. They’re extremely brittle compared to other tubes and typically abandoned by the time you’ve located them.
- Working tubes: Working tubes are exactly what they sound like—a superhighway connecting worker termites to a food source. If you break off a piece of a termite working tube, you’ll reveal hundreds, if not thousands, of busy colony members.
As a side note, you should know that spotting live termites in your home doesn’t necessarily mean there’s damaged wood to worry about. The best way to confirm this is to schedule a termite inspection — you can easily identify signs of a termite infestation and set up a treatment as soon as possible.
How Do You Know If You Have Termite Damage?
Termite damage can go unnoticed for years. Even if you spot it early, you might mistake it for something else. Of the respondents to our survey who reported having termite damage, 53% experienced minor damage and 15% experienced major damage.
You should keep an eye out for the following signs of termite damage:
- Sunken winding lines: Termites eat wood along with the grain, which leaves behind a tunnel-like pattern. A larger pattern could indicate a colony nearby. You’ll likely need professional termite control to get the infestation under control.
- Sagging door frames: You may also notice stuck windows and sagging building structures. This indicates a loss of mass in the wood, which suggests long-term termite activity just out of sight.
- Hollow-sounding wood: Try knocking on walls, ceilings, and joists near termite frass piles or exit holes. If it sounds hollow when tapped, you may have more severe damage than meets the eye. It would be a good idea to schedule a professional inspection.
- Wood rot: Termites leave exit holes around the wood they infest, which allows water to enter the structure. This leads to mold, mildew, and fungi, encouraging wood rot and weakening wooden structures.
How Much Can Termite Damage Cost?
The cost of termite damage can range up to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how long the termites were able to munch away undetected. Of the respondents to our survey who had termite damage, 94% paid less than $3K for the repairs.
- Minor damage, for example, may not require professional repairs. You may be able to replace the damaged wood or seal, caulk, and exclude termite entry points.
- Moderate damage may be more overwhelming. This may include extensive damage to kitchen cabinets, baseboards, and wood trim or possible problems with door and window frames.
- Major termite damage almost always requires professional support. If you have costly damage like hollow structural supports, damaged ceiling joists, or weakened subflooring, you’ll need to contact a professional contractor.
What Do Termites Look Like?
1. Drywood termites: True to their name, this termite species prefers to infest dry wooden structures. They typically commute to a nearby water source and construct their colonies within the grain of the wood. Compared to other termites, they’re often smaller and thicker. They have short legs, straight antennae, and sport a creamy, off-white color.
2. Subterranean termites: Many people in the southeastern states struggle with subterranean termites. These moisture-loving pests require plenty of water and humidity (as well as soil contact) to survive. You can spot a subterranean termite colony by the damage it leaves behind, especially the shelter tubes, piles, and frass. However, you can also identify live termites by their longer, more slender frames. Lighter-colored wings and darker-colored heads are a good giveaway.
Several other termite species are present in the U.S., although they’re much less common outside the Southeast.
Formosan termites are among the most costly wood-destroying insects in the U.S. and can be found in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, Arizona, California, and Hawaii.
Conehead termites, for example, are native to the Caribbean. If you live in or around Broward County, Florida, scheduling annual inspections is a good idea.
Other uncommon species, including dampwood termites, primarily infest Florida and the Pacific Northwest. They’re not as aggressive as subterranean termite species, but they’ll certainly pack a punch if left to their own devices.
If you think or know you’ve spotted a termite in your home, contact a pest control company immediately. The professionals at ScherZinger Pest Control are the trusted termite control specialists in Northern Kentucky, Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus.
Contact ScherZinger Pest Control for Termite Inspections
A potential termite infestation in your home is no laughing matter. The good news is you don’t have to figure it out alone.
While only 36% of homeowners plan to regularly schedule termite inspections, ScherZinger Pest Control offers the treatments you need to tamp out termites quickly. From our Sentricon® Termite Colony Elimination System to our Perimeter Plus termite treatment, we offer everything needed to get termites under control. We’re the Columbus Pest Control experts serving Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton areas.
Rest easy at night knowing your home is termite-free. Contact ScherZinger Pest Control today at 1-877-748-9888 to schedule a professional inspection.
Termite FAQs
Why do termites eat wood?
Termites need cellulose to survive, which is found in organic substances like wood. Once they’ve located a usable feed source, they’ll establish a colony and let workers distribute the food.
Does mulch attract termites?
The short answer is no, mulch does not directly attract termites. Most types of mulch consist of hardwood like oak, ash, and eucalyptus. Wood frames are typically built with softer trees like pine, fir, and spruce. Termites prefer to eat the softer wood that your house is made from. Mulch does keep the ground moist though, which termites need, so it’s best to keep mulch several inches away from your foundation.
Why do termites shed their wings?
Once a termite has found a mate, she sheds her wings to establish a new colony. She no longer needs to seek a suitable habitat or partner, so she’ll give up her wings to lay termite eggs instead. If you find discarded wings, you may have an active infestation in your home.
Why do termites swarm?
Certain termites swarm to find a new mate and habitat. Swarming typically lasts about 30 to 40 minutes and ends with termites ‘pairing off’ to establish a new colony. If termites cannot find soil or moisture, or if they fail to find a mate, they will quickly die within a few hours. This is often the case when you find dead termites in your home.
The poll was conducted on September 18, 2024, with a total of 600 respondents, all of whom are homeowners. The respondents were from all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. Of those surveyed, 47.67% were male, 52.33% were female, and 38.67% had a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The results have a confidence rate of 95%, meaning that if the survey were repeated under the same conditions, the results would fall within the margin of error 95% of the time. The margin of error for this poll is ±4%, indicating that the actual opinions of the broader population of homeowners could vary by this amount. The full data set is available here.
