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Termites?

Termites?

Detect Termite Infestations: Look For Mud Tubes, Damaged Wood, Frass, Winged Termites, And Discarded Wings. Differentiate Termites From Ants.

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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.
Drywood Termites

Drywood Termites

Pest Details
Color:
Light brown to cream-colored.
Size:
Size: 3/8" to 1/2" Inch Long.
Legs:
6
Shape:
Cylindrical body with a straight waist and wings of equal length (in reproductive/swarming termites).

Pest Habits & Characteristics

  • Presence of small, dry, pellet-like droppings (look like tiny footballs) dropping out of a pin hole of infested wood.
  • Hollow-sounding wood when tapped.
  • Winged reproductive termites (swarmers) emerging from wood, especially in the spring.
  • Small holes in wood surfaces and blistering of wood.
    • Image Attribute
    {{Information| |Description = Durch Rossameisen (Holzameisen) geschädigter Balken |Source = selbst fotografiert |Date = 23. Aug. 2005 |Author = Bjørn Fritsche }} {{GFDL-self}} & {{Information |description={{en|New Zealand Drywood Termite (''Kalotermes brouni'')}} |date=2020-01-19 |source=https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/59925212 |author=[https://www.inaturalist.org/users/833458 dbagnall] |permission= |other versions= }} {{iNaturalist|37759946}} {{iNaturalistreview}} Category:Kalotermes brouni Category:Uploaded with iNaturalist2Commons & Oscar Dove, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons & Davidmoradelpozo, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons & Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons & JJ Greive of Home Inspections Of Puget Sound, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons all combined
    Preparation For Service

    You can view our drywood termite checklist here.

    Subterranean Termite

    Subterranean Termite

    Pest Details
    Color:
    Creamy white to dark brown or black (depending on caste).
    Size:
    1/8" to 3/8" Inch Long.
    Legs:
    6
    Shape:
    Elongated body with a straight waist and wings of equal length (in reproductive/swarmer termites).

    Pest Habits & Characteristics

  • Mud tubes on exterior walls, foundations, or crawl spaces.
  • Damaged or hollow-sounding wood.
  • Presence of swarmers (winged termites) inside or around the home.
  • Discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or other entry points.
  • Bubbling or uneven paint.
    • Image Attribute
    Ryan Watson, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons & © Hans Hillewaert & Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons combined
    Preparation For Service
  • Remove any wood-to-soil contact around the home's exterior.
  • Reduce moisture levels around the foundation by repairing leaks and ensuring proper drainage.
  • Move any wood piles or debris away from the house.
  • Inform the pest control professional of any specific areas of concern.
  • Provide access to all areas of the home, including crawl spaces and basements, for thorough inspection and treatment.
    • Carpenter Ant

    Carpenter Ant

    Pest Details
    Color:
    Black or red and black
    Size:
    1/4 to 1/2 inch long
    Legs:
    6
    Shape:
    Segmented, oval

    Pest Habits & Characteristics

    Wood shavings, rustling noises in walls

    Image Attribute
    Thadguidry, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons & NaCl58, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons & Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons combined
    Preparation For Service

    See our preparation sheet

    Carpenter Bees

    Carpenter Bees

    Pest Details
    Color:
    golden-yellow with brown bands
    Size:
    1/2" inch long
    Legs:
    6
    Shape:
    Oval

    Pest Habits & Characteristics

  • Perfectly round holes in wood surfaces.
  • Sawdust near wooden structures.
  • Yellowish-brown stains on wood (bee excrement).
  • Presence of adult bees hovering around wooden structures.
    • Image Attribute
    Carpenter Bee Photo Edited, Original Image - Insects Unlocked, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
    Preparation For Service

    Inform the pest control professional of any specific areas where bees have been seen.

    Powderpost Beetles

    Powderpost Beetles

    Pest Details
    Color:
    Reddish-brown to black.
    Size:
    1/8" to 3/4" Inch Long.
    Legs:
    6
    Shape:
    Narrow, cylindrical body.

    Pest Habits & Characteristics

  • Small round holes in wood surfaces.
  • Fine powdery frass around infested wood.
  • Damaged or weakened wood.
    • Image Attribute
    © Túrelio (via Wikimedia-Commons), 2013 & Ken Walker, Museum Victoria, CC BY 3.0 AU <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons & Wisut Sittichaya, Roger A. Beaver, Lan-Yu Liu, Aran Ngampongsai, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons & Len Worthington, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Combined
    Preparation For Service

    Follow Our Powder Post Beetle Prep Sheet