Termites?

Check for Physical Signs

  • Mud Tubes: Termites often build mud tubes (small tunnels made of soil and wood particles) along walls, foundations, or other structures. These tubes protect them from predators and keep them moist.
  • Damaged Wood: Tap on wooden structures. If they sound hollow or are soft and easy to puncture, it might indicate termite damage. Look for tunnels in the wood.
  • Frass (Termite Droppings): Drywood termites leave behind small, pellet-shaped droppings that look like sawdust.
    • JJ Greive of Home Inspections Of Puget Sound, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Look for Swarmers

  • Winged Termites: During the warmer months, reproductive termites (also known as swarmers) emerge to form new colonies. They have two pairs of long, equal-sized wings and can often be mistaken for flying ants.

Check the Wings

  • Discarded Wings: After swarming, termites shed their wings. If you find a pile of wings near windows, doors, or light fixtures, it could be a sign of termites.

Differentiate from Ants

  • Ants vs. Termites:
    • Body Shape: Termites have a straight, uniform waist, while ants have a pinched, segmented waist.
    • Antennae: Termites have straight, beaded antennae, whereas ants have elbowed antennae.
    • Wings: Termite wings are equal in size, while ants have larger front wings and smaller hind wings.

Differentiate from Other Wood Destroying Pests

  • If the above signs don't match, consider other pests:
    • Carpenter Ants: These can also damage wood, but they do not eat it. Look for sawdust-like material without pellet-shaped droppings and smooth, clean tunnels in the wood.
    • Powderpost Beetles: These leave behind fine, powdery wood dust and tiny exit holes in wooden surfaces.

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