How to Tell If You Have Termites

Termites cause more structural damage to American homes than fires and floods combined — yet most homeowners never know they have them until the damage is already done. These insects work slowly, silently, and completely out of sight inside walls and beneath floors. By the time the signs become obvious, repair costs can run into the thousands.

The good news: termites do leave clues. Knowing what to look for can help you catch an infestation early and get treatment before serious damage occurs.

The Most Common Signs of a Termite Infestation

1. Mud Tubes on Foundation Walls

Subterranean termites — the most common species in Missouri — cannot survive exposure to open air for long. To travel between their underground colony and your home's wood, they build mud tubes: pencil-width tunnels made of soil, wood particles, and saliva along your foundation, crawlspace walls, or basement.

These tubes are one of the clearest signs of termite activity. Check along the exterior base of your foundation, in crawlspaces, and along any wood that contacts the ground. An active tube will have live termites inside. A broken or hollow tube may indicate a former infestation that has either ended or moved.

2. Hollow-Sounding or Damaged Wood

Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin outer shell while hollowing out the interior. Tap on wood in your basement, around window frames, or on structural beams. If it sounds hollow where it should sound solid, that is a warning sign.

You may also notice wood that appears blistered, darkened, or that dents easily when pressed. In severe infestations, wood may crumble when probed with a screwdriver.

3. Discarded Wings Near Windows and Doors

Each spring, termite colonies produce winged reproductives called swarmers. These fly out to start new colonies, then shed their wings once they land. Finding piles of small, equal-length wings near windowsills, on the floor near exterior doors, or in spider webs near light sources is a strong indicator that a colony is nearby or already inside your home.

Termite wings are all the same size, which distinguishes them from ant wings — ants have front wings that are noticeably larger than rear wings.

4. Live Swarmers Inside Your Home

If you see what look like flying ants emerging from walls, flooring, or other wood surfaces inside your home, there is a good chance they are termite swarmers — not ants. Swarmers inside the house mean the colony is already established within the structure itself, not just nearby in the yard. This is a serious sign that requires immediate professional inspection.

5. Frass — Termite Droppings

Drywood termites (less common in Missouri than subterranean, but present) push their fecal matter out of small holes in the wood they are infesting. This frass looks like tiny wood-colored pellets or fine powder, often found in small piles beneath infested wood. It can resemble sawdust.

6. Stuck Windows and Doors

As termites eat through structural wood, the resulting moisture and damage can warp door frames and window casings, making them suddenly difficult to open or close. This is easy to dismiss as seasonal humidity — but if combined with any other signs, it warrants investigation.

Where to Look in a Missouri Home

Focus your inspection on areas where wood contacts or is near soil, moisture, or exterior walls:

• Crawlspace floor joists and support beams
• Basement walls and rim joists
• Exterior foundation perimeter
• Wood deck posts and steps that touch the ground
• Wood mulch or firewood stored against the house
• Window and door frames, especially on the ground floor
• Garage walls and framing near the floor

What to Do If You Find Signs

Do not disturb any mud tubes or damaged wood you find before a professional inspection. Disturbing activity can cause the colony to move deeper into the structure, making treatment more difficult. Mark or photograph what you find and call a licensed pest control company.

A professional inspection will confirm whether the activity is active or old, identify the species, assess the extent of damage, and recommend the appropriate treatment. For more on what that process looks like, see our article on what to expect from a termite inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have termites without seeing any signs? Yes. Early infestations often produce no visible signs. Annual professional inspections are the most reliable way to catch termites before they cause significant damage.

Are termites common in Franklin and Gasconade counties? Yes. Missouri is in a moderate-to-high termite pressure zone. Subterranean termites are found throughout the state and are active in our service area.

How quickly do termites cause damage? A mature colony can consume roughly a foot of a 2x4 board in about five months. Damage accumulates slowly but compounds over years if left untreated.