Termites: Detection, Treatment, and Prevention

Protect your home from termite damage with expert identification and treatment guidance by region.

Termites: Detection, Treatment, and Prevention

About Termites

Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage annually in the United States — more than fires, floods, and windstorms combined. Despite being called “white ants” in some regions, termites are more closely related to cockroaches. They’re wood-destroying insects that digest cellulose, making the wood in your home their food source.

Termite damage is particularly insidious because it often goes unnoticed for years. By the time visible damage is apparent, colonies may have been feeding on a structure for a decade.

Identification

Subterranean termites (most common and destructive): Require soil contact for moisture. Build mud tubes to access above-ground wood. Found in every US state except Alaska. Look for:

  • Mud tubes (pencil-width tubes of mud on foundation walls, wood, or drywall)
  • Swarmers (winged reproductives) in spring — resemble flying ants but with equal-length wings and no waist
  • Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
  • Buckling paint or small holes in drywall

Drywood termites: Found in coastal areas, the South, and Southwest. Don’t need soil contact. Look for:

  • Small piles of sand-like pellets (frass) pushed through kick-out holes
  • Smooth, clean galleries inside wood
  • Swarmers emerging from wood itself

Formosan termites: An invasive subterranean species established in the South and Hawaii. Forms larger, more aggressive colonies. Sometimes builds carton nests above ground.

Prevention Tips

  1. Eliminate wood-to-soil contact — Grade soil away from the foundation; ensure no wood touches the ground
  2. Fix moisture problems — Termites are attracted to moisture. Fix leaks, improve drainage, ventilate crawl spaces
  3. Reduce cellulose near the house — Keep firewood away from the foundation; remove tree stumps and buried wood debris
  4. Maintain regular inspections — Annual professional WDI (Wood Destroying Insect) inspections identify early activity
  5. Avoid heavy mulch against the foundation — Mulch retains moisture and provides cover for termite movement

Treatment Options

Liquid soil treatments — Non-repellent termiticides (fipronil, imidacloprid) create a treated zone in soil. Termites pass through the zone, pick up the chemical, and share it with colony members. Most carry 5-10 year warranties.

Bait systems — In-ground stations (Sentricon, Advance) intercept foraging termites. Active bait disrupts molting and reproduction, eventually eliminating the colony. Slower than liquid treatment but no soil injection required.

Fumigation — Required for drywood termites in severe infestations. Requires vacating the structure for 2-3 days.

When to Call a Professional

Termite treatment is almost always a job for licensed professionals. DIY products exist but rarely provide comprehensive protection for the entire structure. If you see any signs of termite activity, contact a licensed termite control company immediately.

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