The clearest signs of termites are mud tubes on foundations and walls, swarms of winged termites or piles of discarded wings near windows, small piles of pellet-like droppings (frass), and wood that sounds hollow or gives way when pressed. Other clues include bubbling paint, pinholes in drywall, sagging floors, and doors or windows that suddenly stick. If you find any of these, collect a sample or take photos and book an inspection; many companies inspect for free.
Table of Contents
10 Signs of Termites
| Sign | What it looks like | Points to |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Mud tubes | Brown, pencil-width tunnels up foundations, piers, pipes and walls | Subterranean termites |
| 2. Swarmers | Winged insects emerging indoors, often in spring | An active colony nearby or inside |
| 3. Discarded wings | Piles of equal-length wings on sills, floors and in spider webs | A recent swarm |
| 4. Frass (droppings) | Tiny six-sided pellets like sawdust or coffee grounds below wood | Drywood termites |
| 5. Hollow-sounding wood | Wood sounds papery when tapped; a screwdriver sinks in | Internal damage |
| 6. Bubbling or peeling paint | Blisters that look like water damage | Termites or moisture under the surface |
| 7. Pinholes in drywall | Tiny holes, sometimes plugged with mud or frass | Termites exiting or sealing tunnels |
| 8. Sticking doors and windows | Frames warp as termites eat and add moisture | Damage in frames |
| 9. Sagging floors or ceilings | Soft, spongy or dipping spots | Advanced damage |
| 10. Clicking sounds | Quiet tapping in walls as soldiers bang their heads to warn the colony | An active colony |
Pictures of Termite Signs
More pictures: flying termites, termite droppings and termite damage.
How to Check Your Home for Termites
- Walk the outside with a flashlight: look at the foundation, porch steps, piers and where pipes enter for mud tubes.
- Check the crawl space or basement: sill plates, joists and support posts.
- Tap and probe wood near the ground and around leaks with a screwdriver handle.
- Look below wooden furniture, window frames and attic beams for pellet piles.
- Check sills, light fixtures and spider webs for shed wings after warm spring days.
- Watch for moisture problems: leaks, clogged gutters and soil against siding make termites more likely.
Termites or Something Else?
| You found | Could also be | How to tell |
|---|---|---|
| Winged insects | Flying ants | Ants have pinched waists and uneven wings. See flying ants vs termites. |
| Sawdust-like piles | Carpenter ants, powderpost beetles | Termite frass is hard, uniform pellets; ant debris is shredded wood; beetle powder is flour-fine. |
| Soft wood | Wood rot | Rot is damp and crumbly without galleries or mud. |
| Bubbling paint | Water damage | Look for stains, mold or a leak. |
Found Signs? What to Do
- Don’t break open tubes or spray; leave the evidence for the inspector.
- Save a few insects or wings in a sealed bag and take photos.
- Book an inspection. See termite inspection cost.
- Compare two or three quotes. See termite treatment cost.
Termite inspection tools
- Bright flashlight for crawl spaces and foundations
- Wood moisture meter to find damp wood
- Termite bait stations for early warning around the house
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FAQs
The first signs are often swarmers or shed wings near windows in spring, mud tubes on the foundation, or small piles of pellet-like droppings below wood.
Termites have straight antennae, a thick waist and four equal-length wings. Flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and front wings longer than the back wings.
Drywood termite droppings are tiny, hard, six-sided pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds, often in small piles below infested wood.
Sometimes. Soldier termites bang their heads against wood to warn the colony, which can make a faint clicking sound in quiet rooms.
Mud tubes mean subterranean termites are traveling between the soil and wood. Break a small section: if it is rebuilt or has live termites inside, the infestation is active.
Sources
Facts in this guide are checked against the sources above and reviewed when they change. See how we research in our editorial policy.
I like that you pointed out how the presence of termite swarms around your home or garden is a sign of termite infestation. I was tending to the plants in our garden yesterday and I noticed some bugs flying around, which seemed like termites. We can’t just leave these termites alone, so we should definitely call for termite services to take care of them.