What does a termite look like? [Termite Identification Guide] (2023)

FAQs

What do termites look for look like? ›

They typically measure between 1/4 and 1/2 of an inch long and have soft bodies with straight antennae. The queens and kings are larger, capable of reaching over one inch long. Colors range from white to light brown where worker termites often appear lighter, while swarming termites darker.

Workers: Like subterranean termites, drywood worker termites are cream to white in color. Soldiers: These have darker, orangish-brown heads and opaque bodies, and are much larger than subterranean soldiers. Reproductives: Drywood swarmers have amber-colored heads and dark brown abdomens with smoky gray wings.

Waist - Termites have a straight waist, while ants have a pinched waist. Antennae - Termites have straight antennae while ants have bent antennae. Wing Length - Termites wings are the same length while ants have wings of different length. Discarded wings - Flying ants do not shed their wings, but termite swarmers do.

Termite droppings or frass are a tell-tale sign of a termite infestation. Drywood termites nest inside of wood. As they create tunnels and eat the wood they are infesting, termites discard the droppings, creating mounds of pellets.

An unusual appearance on painted or wallpapered surfaces can also be an early sign of termites. If you look carefully, you can see signs of termite damage underneath, such as: Small pinholes where termites have eaten through. Bubbling paint.

What chemical kills termites? There are two main chemicals used to kill termites—fipronil and hexaflumuron. Fipronil is the specially designed chemical used as an active ingredient in many different liquid termiticides. In high enough concentrations, it can kill termites on contact.

The insects most commonly confused for termites are flying ants. The most common species of ants to take flight around your house are carpenter ants, but they're by no means the only ones. Other would-be imposters include moisture ants, black garden ants and pavement ants.

What Do Drywood Termites Look Like? The size of drywood termites range, depending on their age, from 1/4 inch to 1 inch long. Adult drywood termites have a thicker, oval-shaped waist, short legs and straight antennae with equal length wings. They are usually cream-white to light brown in color and have six legs.

Worker termites are wingless and white or creamy white. Soldier termites are creamy white except for a darker, enlarged head that usually contains a large pair of mandibles. Soldiers do not have wings. King and queen termites may measure as much as an inch long, while the other roles range from ¼ to ½ inch in size.

Tunnels in the wood - Also known as 'galleries' which are quite difficult to see from the outside. Termite droppings - After consuming wood, dry wood termites often leave behind brown-coloured and grainy faecal mounds. These faecal pellets are usually found beneath the infested wood.

Can you see termites with your eyes? ›

Termites can be seen by the naked eye, particularly the larger alate swarmers that are most often seen outside the colony. In fact, one identifying factor in a termite infestation is finding discarded wings from an alate termite near openings like doors and windows.

Termite damage sometimes appears similar to water damage. Outward signs of termite damage include buckling wood, swollen floors and ceilings, areas that appear to be suffering from slight water damage and visible mazes within walls or furniture. Termite infestations also can exude a scent similar to mildew or mold.

Termites swarm after their original colony has reached a certain capacity level and is ready to expand. For most colonies, this happens once a year. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, called alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.

Boric acid is often recommended for the elimination of termites. Boric acid is a natural pesticide and usually comes in the powder form. You can sprinkle it in the area of infestation or mix it with water to spray in the area. It might be best to use goggles, masks and gloves while spraying the acid.

Finding one, two, or even a dozen termite swarmers in your house does not mean you have a termite infestation. These insects probably blew in through an open door. Termite swarmers are adapted to mate and begin new colonies in exterior wood, particularly wood that is weathered, cracked, or unfinished.

Termite colonies can take 3 to 5 years to fully mature. While there is no accurate way of calculating the exact age of an infestation, there are ways to make accurate predictions of their age. It can take anywhere from 3 to 8 years for termite damage to show up depending on the size of the colony.

“We tested several insecticidal essential oils on individual western drywood termites and found that methyl salicylate, or wintergreen oil, killed them the fastest,” said Choe. Wintergreen oil kills termites, but it doesn't hurt people or their pets.

Clemson University scientists reported that 'Termites hate smells of cedarwood, geranium, and tea tree oil. It has also been found that clove bud, cinnamon, and garlic oils can also repel termites.

Vinegar's acetic acid is corrosive to termite exoskeletons. This acid spray kills termites. This treatment must be sprayed on termite bodies. If you can't access most of the termites, immerse their colony in vinegar.

What pests look like termites? ›

Mayflies on the move look similar to termites. Like termites, Mayflies are highly active when the weather is warm and after a heavy downpour. They also live with groups and are drawn by bright lights, so they would usually congregate in decks, window screens and doors.

So, are termites harmless to people? While the bite of a soldier termite is mostly harmless and termites are not known to spread diseases or inject venom, they are not entirely harmless. They can indirectly impact your health. Subterranean termites cause damage that can promote mold issues in your home.

Termites have straight, wide bodies, and ants have narrow, pinched bodies. Once you're close enough to compare the bodies of termites to ants, you'll likely see that the abdomen on a termite has no defined waist. Unlike ants, which have a well-defined, pinched body, termites are rectangular.

Drywood swarmers have red heads and black bodies where subterranean termite swarmers are solid black. One distinct way to tell what type of termites you have on your property is “Mud Tubes,” also known as tunnels. These are literally mud formed into the shapes of tubes created by the workers.

Subterranean termites are much more dangerous because they cause more significant damage than drywood termites. Their colonies can develop up to 1 million strong. Subterranean termites have a soft white body with no eyes. They are typically no longer than a centimeter.

Subterranean alates have one single thick, dark vein that runs parallel to the top of the wing. Drywood termites have a complex system of veins, usually at least three or four in each wing. Most termites shed their wings within minutes of landing. This is often the only evidence they leave behind.

Found in every U.S. state except Alaska, subterranean termites are creamy white to dark brown or black and 1/8 inch long. They live in underground colonies or in moist secluded areas aboveground that can contain up to two million members.

Baby termites look similar to adult termites. The only significant difference is that they are paler in colour and smaller in size, resembling tiny ants. They feature straight antennae, a thick waist and have a tell-tale whitish pigment. As termite babies develop, they get darker and larger.

Sugar Ants (Camponotus Consobrinus)

They are between 7 and 12 millimeters, which is larger than many other ants, and have brown-orange bodies with large black heads. They nest outdoors in hollow wood, branches of trees or shrubs and beneath rocks or soil.

How Long Do Termites Ruin Your Foundations? Destructive termites take about 3 to 8 years to inflict noticeable damage to your property--this will still depend on the species of termite and the mature size of their nest. A colony consisting of 60,000 termites can eat 2x4 wood within 5 months.

What kind of termite is most destructive to houses? ›

Subterranean termites

They build distinctive "mud tubes" to gain access to food sources and to protect themselves from open air. Subterranean termites are by far the most destructive species in the U.S.

The average termite treatment cost in the U.S. is around $575, with prices ranging from $230 to $930 for most services. But factors like the size of your home, the extent of your termite problem and where the infestation is located can all make a difference when it comes to determining the final price.

The arid-land subterranean termite usually swarms during daylight hours in the fall, late winter and early spring. The desert subterranean termite swarms during the summer, from July to September. This termite swarms at dusk, after a rain.

Mud tubes are the most common sign of subterranean termite activity. Mud tubes are used to travel between the soil and a food source. They are attached to structures, typically near the foundation. Mud tubes act as protection for termites and are commonly found near the foundations of your home.

Certain types of termites are more prone to swarming during the day while others will swarm at night. With indoor termite swarms, worker termites will create small, exit holes in door or window frames, baseboards, walls or any wooden structure.

The easiest way to find her is look for her reproductives: these are the male termites that fertilize her eggs. Reproductives are a little smaller than worker termite and are much lighter: workers are generally a light yellow while reproductives are closer to pure white.

Yes, they can go away on their own. Why is it a scary answer? Because you never know when they are going to come back! Without a termite treatment, there is no way of knowing when a healthy termite colony will return to re-infest a structure.

Termites take a very short time to spread. Within a few days, they can multiply to what's considered an infestation. Homeowners need to take every percaussion possible, and be sure to act quickly in order to protect their homes.

While these pests may look harmless, they can cause significant amounts of destruction when they're in groups (or “colonies”). In fact, termites cause around $5 billion in property damage every year and can ruin nearly any piece of architecture if given the time, so you definately should be worried about termites.

A large Formosan termite colony can cause significant damage to a house in approximately two years, if it is not controlled. Other termite species would take several more years to cause the same level of damage as Formosan termites since other species have much smaller colony sizes.

What does termite infested wood look like? ›

When termites feed on the cellulose inside of wood, the wood source will eventually become brittle and hollow. Piles of wood or timber infested by termites will look like they've been completely carved and tunneled-through. In some cases, you may notice wood shavings or wood that looks rather splintered.

Winged swarming termites emerge from cracks in your walls and foundation in large numbers. They can also come out though holes in the soil in your yard. They emerge through swarm tubes made by worker termites. Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony.

Leaky pipes, improper drainage, and poor airflow all create moisture issues that attract termites. Dampwood and subterranean termites in particular thrive in humid environments. While dampwood termites prefer water-damaged wood, subterranean termites are unable to live unless surrounded by enough moisture.

Termites can easily be transferred from one property to another if they are transported with the wood in which they live. Any wood carried from a house that's infested with termites, may contain a queen termite that is capable enough to grow a new colony in a different place.

Baking soda has absolutely no effect whatsoever on termites, and it certainly won't kill them. The other popular termite treatment myth is using vinegar, which much like Baking soda is a waste of time.

Termite Treatments

One popular method on how to get rid of termites involves treating the soil around your house with a termite insecticide, such as imidacloprid or fipronil. Wood can also be treated directly if termites are inside. Termite baits are strategically placed around your yard to lure termites in.

Are Termites Visible to the Human Eye? Termites can be seen by the naked eye, particularly the larger alate swarmers that are most often seen outside the colony. In fact, one identifying factor in a termite infestation is finding discarded wings from an alate termite near openings like doors and windows.

Termites have front wings and hind wings that are the same length, and are twice as long as their body. Ants have shorter wings overall, and their front wings are longer than their hind wings. Antennae: Termites have straight antennae, while ants have bent antennae.

The insects most commonly confused for termites are flying ants. The most common species of ants to take flight around your house are carpenter ants, but they're by no means the only ones. Other would-be imposters include moisture ants, black garden ants and pavement ants.

Termites swarm after their original colony has reached a certain capacity level and is ready to expand. For most colonies, this happens once a year. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, called alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.

Are there bugs that look like termites? ›

Powderpost beetles. Just like termites, powderpost beetles feed on wood and can do significant structural damage if left untreated. Even if you identify the pests in your home as powderpost beetles rather than termites, you should still call an exterminator ASAP to minimize damage to your home.

Termites can be mistaken for ants (and vice versa), especially when they're flying during a swarm. We've outlined some key differences in their appearances above, such as body shape, antennae, and wings. But it can certainly be difficult spotting these differences.

Termites and ants both have two sets of wings, but termite wings are equal in size. Ants have the recognizable body shape of an ant, with three distinguishable body segments. Termites have three segments as well, but they do not have the thin waist of the ant. Termites have straight, beaded antennae.

To deter the pests, homeowners can obtain heartwood-grade lumber for construction projects. Termites also tend to avoid specific species of trees such as redwoods, yellow cedar, Laotian teak, and cypress. However, these types of wood are not as long-lasting as treated lumber.

Ants are the greatest predators of termites, and may have a considerable local impact on termite populations in some areas of the world. A few parasitoids of termites are known, but their potential for regulating termite populations seems negligible.

Exposure to sunlight - Termites are very sensitive to sunlight; exposing infested furniture to daylight can kill off any hiding termites. Diatomaceous earth - Used to control many types of garden pests, this can be mixed with soil, water, or paint to help keep termites away.