How Do I Know If I Have Termites?

The Challenge: Termites Are Cryptic Insects

Termites spend most of their lives inside wood or underground. The most common finding in a first professional termite inspection of an older North Bay home is an established infestation that has been present for years with no signs visible to the homeowner. This does not mean there are no signs — it means the signs require knowing where to look and what to look for. This guide covers the most reliable visible indicators of termite activity.

Sign 1: Drywood Termite Frass Pellets

If you find small piles of granular material on windowsills, floors near wood trim, in drawers beneath wood furniture, or in the attic on insulation: this is the most diagnostically reliable sign of active drywood termite infestation. Drywood termite frass consists of six-sided pellets roughly 1mm long, ranging from tan to reddish-brown, pushed out of kick-out holes in infested wood. The pellets are remarkably uniform in size and shape — this regularity distinguishes them from actual sawdust or construction debris.

Sign 2: Mud Tubes on Foundation or Walls

Narrow tubes of mud (pencil-width to finger-width) running up foundation walls, across crawl space piers, or along the exterior base of the structure indicate subterranean termite activity. These shelter tubes allow subterranean termites to travel from their underground colony to above-ground wood while maintaining the moisture they require. Breaking open a suspected tube: if it contains small pale insects, it is active; if hollow and empty, it indicates past activity.

Sign 3: Swarming Termites Indoors

Finding large numbers of winged insects indoors — emerging from walls, ceilings, or floors — or finding piles of discarded wings on windowsills and floors, indicates that a mature termite colony inside or immediately adjacent to the structure is releasing reproductive swarmers. This is one of the most alarming homeowner experiences and is a reliable indicator of an established infestation. Subterranean swarmers appear in winter and spring after rain; drywood swarmers appear in late summer and fall on warm evenings.

Sign 4: Hollow-Sounding Wood

Tap suspected wood (baseboard, door frame, window sill) with a screwdriver handle. Solid wood produces a distinct knock; termite-damaged wood produces a hollow, papery sound as the tap resonates through the empty galleries. This test is most useful in the areas an inspector would already probe: baseboard corners, window frame jambs, and door frame tops.

What to Do If You Find These Signs

• Do not treat the affected area yourself before inspection — consumer products scatter termites and make inspection more difficult
• Photograph the signs and note their location for the inspector
• Do not close up or paint over suspected damage before inspection
• Call for a professional inspection promptly — in real estate transactions, do not wait
• For real estate buyers: termite inspection should already be part of your due diligence regardless of whether you see signs

Frequently Asked Questions