Termite in home: Top 12 Signs of Termite Infestations in the Home

Top 12 Signs of Termite Infestations in the Home

Contributed by: Doug Webb

Updated on: November 15, 2022

Found in 49 states (every state except Alaska), termites are a serious problem faced by homeowners nationwide. It’s estimated that termites cause $5 billion in property damage each year. By protecting your home before you see signs of termites, you can potentially save money.

Termites feeding in your home can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Unfortunately, this type of damage is not usually covered by homeowners insurance.

If you’ve ever seen a single termite, it might seem improbable that they could cause that amount of damage. They’re small, after all, normally only about a quarter of an inch to a half inch in length. But termites are not usually on their own. Instead, a single termite typically means a colony of potentially thousands of other termites are nearby. So while the damage that one termite can cause may be small, together, termites can cause significant damage to building structures.

Recognizing the signs of a termite infestation as early as possible is critical in treating termites and minimizing costly damage. Learn more about termite infestation signs and what a termite infestation looks like.

What is a termite infestation?

A termite infestation is when a colony of termites enters a residence or other structure. An infestation must be addressed quickly to avoid mounting damages to property.

A termite’s diet primarily consists of cellulose, which is found in wood, paper and cardboard. In nature, termites help to clean up dead trees and other plant material, feeding off of the cellulose in these materials. However, when present in homes and structures, a termite’s appetite for cellulose can cause serious damage.

What are the signs of a termite infestation?

Termites can become a damaging and expensive problem if you don’t take care of them quickly. Left unchecked, they can damage the structural integrity of your home.

Be proactive about preventing termite damage by searching for signs of termites in your home or property on a periodic basis and maintaining a termite protection plan by a reputable company that includes an annual termite inspection.

Take a look at the top twelve signs of termite activity below:

1. Buckling or blisters in wood flooring

If you notice your wood flooring is buckling or has blisters in places, these areas could be an indication of termites feeding within or below. Subterranean termites can cause damage to the subfloor, which can make your wood flooring look discolored or have wavy appearance on the surface.

Termites prefer the softer wood of the subfloor or supports, so you may not notice their presence until they have done quite a bit of damage below the surface of your hardwood floors. Because more than one part of the flooring is involved, repairing a wood floor that has been damaged by termites can be difficult.

2. Hollowed or damaged wood

Wood damage can be found below and behind surfaces like walls, floors and more. Termites eat your walls from the inside out, which is why they can be difficult to spot. They will hollow out wood studs within walls without emerging, and these walls will sound empty when you tap on them.

Termites chew through wood to remove the cellulose, leaving behind long grooves. The grooves may resemble a maze inside your walls, or take the form of a honeycomb pattern. Over time, these grooves may weaken the wood and can create structural damage.

3. Swarmers (flying termites)

Swarmers are flying termites that branched off from their colony to find mates and begin a new colony. Swarming happens at certain times of year, and there may be hundreds or even thousands of flying termites in a swarm. If you notice a swarm of flying termites in or near your property, it is an indication that termites may have lived in the vicinity for several years.

4. Discarded termite wings

Discarded termite wings can be found near closed windows, doors and other home-access points. Termites swarm out of their nest to mate and find a place to start a new colony. They fly toward the windows as they are attracted to the light from outdoors. When they land, termites intentionally twist their wings off because they won’t need them again.

You may notice piles of these discarded wings. Just because their wings have been discarded does not mean the termites are dead. On the contrary, they may be busy trying to build a new colony nearby.

5. Hard to open doors and windows

When the termites eat through the wood in search of cellulose, they cause damage to the wood, causing it to buckle or warp. This damage can make it difficult for you to open and close your doors and windows. Stuck windows and doors that won’t fully close could be early warning signs of a termite infestation.

6. Mud tubes

Pencil-sized mud tubes can be found wherever the ground meets your house or any other possible food source like a tree or shed when termites have entered the structure. This is because subterranean termites nest underground and forage up to their food source, which is often a house structure. These termites require certain temperatures and humidity levels to survive. Their tunnels help block out cool, dry air, effectively turning your home into an environment where they can thrive.

7. Drywood termite droppings (frass)

Drywood termites nest inside of wood. While tunneling and eating the wood they’re infesting, they create galleries. To keep these galleries clean, they create kick out holes where they remove their excrement. And since drywood termites eat wood, their excrement is wood, and when they kick it out of their nest, it lands on window sills or floors and can create small mounds of pellets. These mounds of pellets, resembling sawdust or coffee grounds, may indicate the presence of drywood termites.

8. Live termites found during remodeling

If you’re remodeling your home, keep an eye out for termites living in the wood you’re tearing out. One of the most common ways termites are found in homes comes from renovations or remodeling. Taking down walls or cabinets, homeowners can be disappointed to find live termites. They can be found in the soil around your home, in rotting or damp wood components of your house, or anywhere on your property where they can feed on organic matter that contains cellulose such as tree stumps and firewood piles.

9. Damaged drywall, bubbling under paint or wallpaper

Drywall contains paper – and paper contains cellulose, which is a termite’s primary source of food. As termites chew, they will leave behind small trails, both on the surface of and inside drywall. You may notice pin-sized holes in your drywall or wallpaper where the termites have eaten their way through. Termite pinholes in drywall are capped with a small speck of dirt and the presence of bubbling beneath your wallpaper or paint are visible indicators that termites are present.

10. Moldy scents

Termites like wood that is in high moisture situations, which usually includes moldy scents. If you notice a moldy smell and can’t find the source, it is worth your time to call a professional for a termite inspection.

11. Dipping ceilings, buckling support beams or other severe structural damage

A termite infestation can cause damage to the structural elements of your building. Termites can eat through support beams, causing the beams to buckle, compromising the structural integrity of your home. For example, termite-damaged support beams can cause ceilings to dip and crack and floorboards to buckle. Their relentless tunneling can cause wood to fail. These damages can be very difficult – and costly – to repair.

12. Overly squeaky floors and loosening tiles

When termites eat your flooring or subflooring, they can loosen tiles. If you have wooden floorboards, termite damage causes them to buckle and blister, which also results in more noise as you walk over them and apply pressure to the damaged areas.

What does a termite infestation look like?

Depending on the species of termite you’re dealing with, a termite infestation may look slightly different. However, if you’re noticing soft or hollow-sounding wood, blistered floors, or mud tubes (small holes in the wood that termites plug with mud) around your home, these are some telltale signs of a termite infestation.

You may not realize it, but a termite colony is a very complex social network consisting of a queen, workers, soldiers and other reproductive termites. Depending on the species and each termite’s social status, a termite’s life cycle can last anywhere from 2 to 50 years, and a termite colony can survive indefinitely. A colony of termites can have over a million individual members, all hungrily chomping away at any wood they get close to.

How long does it take for termites to cause damage?

The termites’ large colonies paired with their voracious appetites make for a formidable pest. The specific timeframe that termites need in order to cause damage can vary based on several factors. A colony of about 60,000 termites could structurally damage a 2×4 piece of wood in about 5 months.

Again, this doesn’t seem like a huge amount—and it’s not when you think about how many pounds of wood make up a house. Termite damage happens slowly and over time, and that’s where the problem lies. Once a termite colony makes itself at home in your home, they can stay there unnoticed.

Termite damage can be extensive and expensive to repair—especially when termites damage the structural integrity of a home. That’s why it’s important to know the signs of various termite species.

Unfortunately, even if you don’t see signs of termites, that doesn’t mean they’re not there. Termite damage can go unnoticed, and by the time damage is noticed, significant structural damage may already be done.

How do I treat a termite infestation?

While it’s important to take immediate action to treat a termite infestation, it’s equally important to be careful about the type of treatments you use in and around your home. Different termite species have different behaviors and treatment should be specific to the species you’re targeting. Using the wrong DIY or over-the-counter termite solutions can often be ineffective and potentially dangerous. The best course of action is to call a termite control professional to help diagnose your problem and recommend proper treatment.

Terminix finds signs of termites

Each year, termites cause billions of dollars to homes nationwide and your home needs protection. Fortunately, our termite control professionals know exactly where to look for signs of termites, and will customize a plan specific to your needs. That’s where Terminix comes in. We have 95+ years of experience in dealing with these household pests. Our experienced pest and termite control professionals know exactly what to do to find and help eliminate even the worst termite infestations.

Click below to schedule your free inspection and ensure your home is protected from termites. We’ll send one of our termite control specialists to take a look around and to talk with you about your termite problem. Your termite control professional will then work with you to develop a personalized treatment program that’s designed to help eliminate your termite problem and protect your home from these destructive pests.

Termites Resources

Termites: What To Do About Them

Termite Behavior – What Pest Control Pros Should Know

Do Termites Bite?

Flying Termites

Three Termite Sounds Every Homeowner Should Know

What Do Termites Eat?

What Happens to Termites in the Winter?

Where Do Termites Live?

Termite Colonies and Castes: How Termite Colonies are Formed

Termite Mound Structures

Does Home Insurance Cover Termite Damage?

Do Termites Have Eyes?

Did Termites Evolve From Cockroaches?

Animals That Eat Termites

Does Rain Increase Flying Termite Activity?

How to Get Rid of Flying Termites

What Do Termites Look Like? How to Identify Termites

Are Those Termites in Your House, Or Other Bugs?

Know the Enemy: Termite Queens

Termite Structures 101: Termite Mud Tubes

Termite Life Cycles

What Type Of Termites Are Flying Termites?

Termite Wall Damage

Top 12 Termite Signs to Look for in Your Home

Do Termites Make Cocoons?

Termite Damage and Repair in Ceilings and Drywall

Are There Termites In Your House Foundation?

Signs Of Termites In Trees: How To Check For Damage

Termite Droppings

How To Identify Termite Exit Holes

Is Sawdust A Sign Of Termites?

Termite Swarmers

How to Prevent Termites When Building a New House

Types of Termites

Dampwood Termite

Termites vs Ants: What’s the Difference?

Drywood Termite

Types of Termites and Areas They Are Found

Subterranean Termite

Formosan Subterranean Termite

Free Download: Terminix Ultimate Termite Guide

Termites in the U.S.

What Does A Termite Infestation Look Like?

Evidence of Termites

Termites can often live on your property or inside your home for an extended period of time before being detected. Whether it’s drywood termites, which burrow deep within wooden structures, or subterranean termites, which are primarily found underground, these discreet intruders can be tough to discover before significant damage has already been done. To help keep damage to a minimum, it’s crucial to catch the warning signs as soon as possible.

How to Tell If Termites Are Active in Your House

Discolored or drooping drywall
Peeling paint that resembles water damage
Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
Small, pinpoint holes in drywall
Buckling wooden or laminate floor boards
Tiles loosening from the added moisture termites can introduce to your floor
Excessively squeaky floorboards
Crumbling, damaged wood
Stuck windows or doors
Maze-like patterns in furniture, floor boards or walls
Mounds of drywood termite pellets, often resembling small piles of salt or pepper
Piles of wings left behind after swarms, often resembling fish scales
Mud tubes climbing the foundation of your home
Flying termite swarms anywhere on your property

Why do termites shed their wings?

Discarded Termite Wings after Termite Swarm

Termite swarms may take place inside or outside of a home as mature termites leave the nest to start new colonies. Soon after swarmers take flight, they shed their wings. You may find small piles of wings in spider webs and on surfaces around your home’s foundation, like window sills.

Why do termites swarm?

Formosan Termite Swarm

Swarmers from mature colonies typically leave the nest at one of two times per year – during the spring or during the fall. The exact timing of the swarms varies based on the species and weather conditions. Swarms on the exterior of a home may be missed by homeowners, as they are typically a brief event during the morning or afternoon – a time when many people are not at home. Formosan termites also can swarm at dusk.

What is a termite mud tube?

Subterranean Termite Mud Tunnel

Subterranean termites build mud tubes (also known as shelter tubes) to serve as bridges between their colony and the wood they consume. These tubes are made of tiny pieces of soil, wood and debris, and are used to protect the colony from predators and conserve moisture.

What do termite droppings look like?

Drywood Termite Droppings

After consuming wood, drywood termites often leave behind frass or droppings. These tiny fecal mounds often indicate a nearby termite infestation.

How to Identify Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are usually found in warm, southern climates. They house their colonies within the wood on which they feed. As the termites consume wood, they burrow mazes of tunnels and chambers within walls and furniture. The pests leave small piles of feces that resemble pellets where they have eaten or nested.

Illustration of Drywood Termite

Drywood termites also cause sagging floors, walls, and ceilings and may leave behind areas which appear to be water damaged. After winged drywood termites swarm, their wings shed and can be found in small piles throughout an infested home. These wings resemble fish scales.

See swarm photos.

Signs of Subterranean Termite Infestation

Subterranean termites are found throughout the continental United States. These pests build their colonies underground and can travel above ground to access food sources. They enter homes through cracked or unsealed foundations as well as through tunnels constructed from mud, their feces, and saliva. These tunnels are brown, dry, and cylindrical in appearance.

Illustration of Subterranean Termite

The presence of these tunnels near the foundation of your home is a sure sign of subterranean termite infestation. Just like drywood termites, subterranean termites produce winged swarmers which indicate an active termite colony.

How to Identify Termite Infestation

Since termite activity may only become visible after they’ve been active for months or even years, it’s crucial to have your property inspected by a trained professional. Not seeing swarms of these winged insects doesn’t mean your house is safe from them. While a telltale sign of an active infestation is an accumulation of termites flying around your windows or foundation, there are a few other warnings that also indicate a problem.

If you suspect termite activity on your property, make sure to contact an expert in termite identification as soon as possible. Orkin Pros are trained to address any current signs of termites in a house, as well as implement solutions to help prevent future issues. Through a specialized approach to termite control, Orkin can help protect your home with a termite treatment plan suited to your specific needs.

Don’t let termites eat through your home! To learn more about how to prevent termites, contact your local Orkin branch.

Termite Control

How do you know if you have termites?

Learn the signs to look for to determine if you might have a termite infestation.

Why should you be worried?

Termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damage each year and most insurance plans don’t cover the damage.

Schedule a FREE Inspection

We’ll determine whether you actually have termites, then discuss a treatment plan including financing that works for you.

What Orkin Does

Learn what to expect from your Orkin Pro and the AIM process.

Learn More

Signs of Termite Damage

Learn the early warning signs of termites and how to know if you have termites on your property.

Termite Mud Tubes

Explore what to do if you find mud tubes and when you should conduct a termite inspection.

Termite Droppings

Discover the signs of termites based on where droppings are found and what to do if you find termites in your house.

What are other signs of termite activity besides wood damage?

Stains on drywall, mud, and rippled or hollow wood can all be signs of termite activity.

What is the best time for termite treatment?

To best protect your home from termite damage, the best time for termite treatment is right now!

Are termites active during the winter?

Depending on your climate, termites can tunnel into the soil or remain active all year.

Termite Exit Holes

A common sign of a termite infestation, learn how to identify termite exit holes.

Do termites leave sawdust?

Familiarize yourself with common termite evidence and how to decipher sawdust from termite droppings.

characteristic, how unsafe, how to fight with termites in the booth

General information about termites

Calls of terms often stray with ants. The stench is so small and can look like the shape of a body. Biologists vvazhayut, scho shkіdniki relatives targanіv. And the axis of the murakhi, yakraz їkh naylyutishі foes. Colonies may have a well-organized hierarchy. They are divided into:

Working individuals may be more troubled, the stench is engaged in the production of hedgehogs. Soldiers protect termite mounds from zazikhan murakh. It is required to indicate that in the fallow, in the sight of the defender, you can be different. Some have strongly opened slits, while others have slits with otrutoyu. Another feature of tsikh komakh is the stench of loving the temryava. To that, “goosebumps” practically do not make a connection with the outer light. Sporudzhuyut їх in uninterrupted proximity to їzhi. As soon as the tree ends, the stench will close the passage, looking at the gallery. І peresuvayutsya on them.

The termites are hungry for cellulose. The biggest source of this product is wood and everything that vibrates with it.

In living nature, termites can be called forest nurses. The stench settles in quiet trees, it’s time to cut. Roslini is either sick or dry. Why are the stinks unsafe for the dacha?

All the cuts are made from an already recycled tree, but also a dead one. Komakhi tse vіdchuvayut and pragnut to the liking of lasoschiv. Show respect for the life of schoolchildren. The stinks see the tree in the middle and fill the dust. Їx mіtsnі teeth are resolutely reshaping the boards and vibrating cellulose in the middle.

To that, as if the termites wound up in the booth, everything will be a threat:

In our climatic zone, the skids are not as active as in the tropics, but their appearance is the cause of a number of unhandledness.

How unsafe the term is for your booth

It is not just necessary to fight them, but it is necessary to fight them. The stench of the building is not only a place for a house, but also for people, but also for domestic creatures.

There are two main types:

underground;
villages.

Underground can linger in old sheds, booths and fill up with pus. The villages are only entrusted with wood. The shortest way to get in touch with any person is to ask for a professional team.

The main signs that you have a term:

Appearance on the tree of small round openings. Komakhi looms over the tunnels, they will walk and eat at once. Dirochki tell about the presence of emptiness, as if they are abandoned after the way the shkidniks passed.
Galleries. If a lot of cracks appeared on some of the pieces of furniture, then try rozkolupati tse place. When infected, it will be easy. The middle of the club or the bottom will be flogged with passages.
Rubbish. Tse vіdkhodi zhittєdіyalnostі shkіdnіv. It can be seen from such kups that they have recently tasted nebazhanі sudіdi. Instruct you obov’yazkovo you know the dirochki or go through.
Empty. When a sign of the possible presence of shkіdniki appears, try prostukat wooden surfaces. At the places of the settlement, the comakhs will have strange sounds characteristic of the voids.

Krim ushkodzhen objects of furniture and other home stuffs, comakhs can make shoddy people or creatures. When ingested, stinks become carriers of a different kind of unsafe ailments. Zdatni zavdavati pain, the nature of which is very important to distinguish. Bite call out allergic reactions right up to Quincke.

Modern methods for termite control

It is not so easy to bring in termitiv, like and be-like shkіdlivih coma. The stinks are already moving swiftly and expanding along the middle of their life, which is convenient for them.

The best method is to turn to fahіvtsіv to fight against shkіdniks. Ale, you can try folk methods.

If you know where you live, try to get familiar with these objects or wood. It’s best to blame them in the forest, where the coma bring misfortune. And not even a hot climate will not give them the opportunity to develop swiftly. The termite mound itself and some living creatures can be covered with a mile of rosemary. Better vikoristovuvati gospodarske cute.

The offensive method can be overcome sooner in view of prevention, less fight. All furniture, if possible, periodically blame the sun or frost. The cold is bitterly pouring into the lumps.

On the street, for example, in the garden, you can wink murah, like natural enemies. How could you know a termite mound in the distance, grow it so that light was consumed in it.

Sochasnі zasobi fight zі shkіdniki more raznomanіtnі. Among them, scrub, powders, rіdini and bait. Boric acid proved to be bad for itself. But be careful and respectfully follow the instructions. Under the hour of labor, make sure you come in safely for yourself, other bagmen and creatures.

Termite, 03/30/2021 19:08:43

Termite cannot be entered. In Africa, people leave their big houses without trying to fight the termites.

Are termites dangerous to humans? Yes

What do termites eat?

termites They eat wood, leaves, grass and soil. They use their powerful jaws to gnaw through wood and burrow into the soil to reach food sources. Some types of termites can also eat paper and other cellulose materials.

What is the life cycle of termites?

The life cycle of termites begins with the egg. The egg hatches into a larva, which then turns into a nymph. The nymph grows into an adult and the adult breeds to start the cycle again.
Termites typically live between two and five years.

How much damage do termites cause in a house?

Signs of termite infestation include holes in wood, cracked or peeling paint, sagging floors or ceilings, mud trenches in furniture, door frames and walls, and piles of sawdust near wood surfaces. If you suspect you have a termite problem, it is important to contact a pest control company professionally for the purpose of testing (we will of course recommend Mazikis).

How to treat termites	What do we do and how are we treated?
How is termite extermination carried out in the apartment?	In termite treatment, we drill between the pavers every 30-40 cm and spray 1 to 3 liters of pesticide into each hole, then seal the holes.
How to kill termites in a private house?	We drill holes between the tiles every 30-40 cm as in an apartment and additionally create a “protective belt” around the house. After making the holes, we seal.
Is it worth it to leave the house with the destruction of termites?	Not at the drilling stage, but as soon as you start disinfestation, you must leave the area to be sprayed for at least one hour.

The danger of termites to humans.

Termites can cause allergic reactions in humans.

When termites suddenly enter your home, they release a cloud of allergens into the air. These allergens can cause breathing problems (especially if you are asthmatic), skin irritation and watery eyes (although this does not happen often, but you should be aware that such a danger exists).

Termites can cause physical harm to humans

Termites are attracted to wood and other materials based on cellulose . If you have termites in your home, they may start eating you Wooden beams, transparencies or door frames. This can weaken the structure of your home and make it more prone to collapse, especially if your home is made of wood. In Israel, in contrast to the US (where termite attacks day and night), most houses are made of concrete, but the frames, doors, furniture, kitchens, etc. are made of wood. Annual damage from termites in Israel is estimated at hundreds of thousands of shekels.

Termites can damage your home and property.

In addition to causing physical damage to people, termites can also damage your home and property. Termites will eat any wood they come into contact with, including furniture, floors, walls, and ceilings. They can also damage clothes, books, and other paper or fabric items – in short, have you detected termite activity? Don’t wait – do it Termite control.

How to protect your home from termites

Keep your home clean and clutter-free

A cluttered home has more hiding places for pests and makes it harder to look for signs of infestation. Be sure to regularly furnish your home and keep it clean, especially in order to detect termite damage in time.