Identifying the pest in your house is an important step in removing it effectively. Piles of dead swarmers may look like flying ants. You might also find piles of winged swarmers discarded after mating. This “homeowner’s nightmare” is a sure sign you have a termite problem, Crumbley said.

Swarming: Termites, whether they’re subterranean, drywood or dampwood, only leave the wood they’re feeding off of when they swarm to find new mates and develop new colonies.Then they make their way up the wall and can even extend to the house’s upper floors. Mud tubes or mud tunnels are about 1/2-inch thick and typically start from the ground. “The biggest way you’re going to know if you have subterranean termites is to look at the lowest part of your home,” Crumbley said. Mud tunnels: Subterranean termites also construct mud tunnels, which keen-eyed homeowners might spot.“You’ll see it on the floor by an exterior wall or windowsill. “Some people say it looks like sand, some people say pepper,” said Terrence Robinson, owner and operator of Priceless Termite Control. Termites drill small exit holes in wood to push out their droppings, which end up as wood shavings called frass. Frass: If a creature eats, its waste needs to go somewhere, too.“They survive by staying hidden.” Even so, there are a few signs of termite activity you can look out for. “Termites are cryptic insects,” Bentley said. Termites may also prefer wood sources within the walls of your home, making it hard to notice an infestation. A termite colony might localize to a small area. They often enter the house where you might not go frequently, such as a crawl space. Same day service if you call before Noon What are the signs of a termite infestation? Best Home Appliance Insurance Companies.

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