Signs to look for
- Mud tubes: narrow tunnels of soil on foundation walls, piers or crawlspace walls. Subterranean termites use them to travel.
- Swarmers and wings: winged termites, or piles of their shed wings, near windows, doors and lights.
- Damaged wood: wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that has tunnels running with the grain.
- Pellets: tiny, uniform droppings that can point to drywood termites.
- Bubbling paint, sagging floors or doors and windows that suddenly stick.
Termite or flying ant?
Termite swarmers have straight antennae, a thick waist and wings of equal length. Flying ants have bent antennae, a pinched waist and longer front wings.
Don't disturb the evidence
Breaking mud tubes or spraying store-bought products can drive termites to another spot and make them harder to find. Leave things as they are and get a professional inspection. Termites usually work slowly, so you have time to compare quotes.