Signs of Termites: What to Look For (With Pictures)

You may notice termite evidence before you see a live insect: a mud line on the foundation, a small pile of pellets, or discarded wings on a windowsill. The examples below can help you recognize a possible sign and choose a next step. A photograph cannot establish whether an infestation is active or how far damage extends.

If you have not found termite evidence and are looking for routine risk-reduction steps instead, use our guide to preventing termites around your home.

The Short Answer: Five Signs to Look For

Some correctly identified signs can confirm termite presence, but old tubes, pellets, or damage do not by themselves establish current activity. Not finding these signs does not rule out a hidden infestation. Use the photos to compare evidence, not to make a final diagnosis.

1 Mud Tubes

Pencil-width tunnels made of soil and saliva, running up foundations, walls, or piers. They’re the classic sign of subterranean termites, which use them to travel between the ground and your wood without drying out.

What it means: a correctly identified termite tube indicates past or present termite activity. An empty or broken tube does not establish that a colony is gone. Photograph it before disturbing it and arrange an inspection for tubes on your home. Our mud tubes vs. old damage guide explains what observations can and cannot tell you.

2 Frass (Droppings)

Drywood termites push their droppings — called frass — out of small “kick-out” holes, leaving little mounds of six-sided pellets that look a lot like coarse sawdust, coffee grounds, or ground pepper. Subterranean termites don’t usually leave visible frass, so frass often points to drywood activity.

What it means: correctly identified drywood termite pellets indicate termite evidence, but pellets alone cannot establish current activity or the extent of an infestation. Old pellets can also fall from wood when it vibrates. Photograph the pile and nearby holes, note the date, and seek an inspection if pellets appear in your home. Compare similar debris in termite droppings vs. frass.

3 Swarmers (Winged Termites)

Swarmers are winged reproductive termites that leave an established colony to start new ones. Flights can be brief, and timing depends on species, region, and weather. Many subterranean species swarm in spring, while some drywood species swarm in summer or fall. The photo shows Formosan termite alates collected on a sticky monitoring trap; it does not show the size of a colony.

What it means: swarmers emerging inside a building are a strong reason for a licensed inspection. A few insects attracted through an open window, or a swarm outdoors, do not by themselves prove your house is infested. Compare wings, waist, and antennae in termites vs. carpenter ants; our termite types guide explains the broader differences.

4 Discarded Wings

After swarmers land, they shed their wings — so you may find the wings without ever seeing the insects. Termite wings are all roughly equal in length and are often found in small piles on windowsills, along baseboards, or near light fixtures. (Flying ants, by contrast, have front wings noticeably longer than the back pair.)

What it means: discarded termite wings indicate swarmers were present, but do not locate the colony or show when the wings were shed. Note where you found them and arrange an inspection for indoor accumulations. Loose wings alone can be difficult to identify; our comparison guide explains the clues and their limits.

5 Damaged or Hollow Wood

Termite feeding can leave hidden galleries beneath an apparently intact wood surface. Hollow-sounding wood, blistering, or sagging deserve attention, but moisture damage, decay, and other pests can produce similar symptoms. Sound or appearance alone cannot identify the cause. Compare termite damage vs water damage for the differences between galleries, swelling, and wood decay.

What it means: damaged wood does not by itself establish termites or current activity. Do not open walls, probe suspect load-bearing timber, or test weakened wood by standing on it. Arrange a pest inspection and, if structural safety is in question, an assessment by a qualified building professional. Our active vs. old evidence guide explains why appearance alone is inconclusive.

Drywood Termite Pellets vs. Carpenter Ant Debris

Carpenter ants excavate wood rather than eat it. Their discarded wood shavings are not the same thing as termite fecal pellets. These clues can help you compare, but color alone is not a reliable test:

For the full close-up comparison, see termite droppings vs. frass.

Do the Signs Look Different by Region?

Location helps narrow the possibilities, but a state’s climate cannot identify an insect or rule out an infestation. Local species and swarm seasons vary. Use our termites by state guide for regional context, then compare the actual evidence rather than choosing a treatment from location alone.

You’ve Spotted a Sign — What Now?

Finding a sign is the start, not the diagnosis. Here’s the honest path:

• Document what you found. Take a close-up and a wider photo, note the location and date, and avoid disturbing the evidence.
• Compare the right clue. Use the pellets guide for loose debris or the mud tubes guide for earthen tunnels. Neither replaces an inspection.
• Check the rest of the house. Work through the termite inspection checklist to cover the other accessible areas in a consistent order and record what you find.
• Consider look-alikes. Compare with carpenter ants and wood-boring beetles. A professional may need a specimen or an on-site inspection to confirm the cause.
• Get routed to the right step. Our decision guide takes your specific situation and points you to observe, safe DIY, comparing options, or calling a pro.

For accessible areas without structural or electrical hazards, our termite inspection tools guide covers basic observation tools and their limits. Do not enter unsafe crawl spaces or open walls to investigate.

How We Approach These Guides

TermitePlan is an independent decision resource; we are not an exterminator and do not sell treatments. Identification here is meant to help you recognize evidence and choose a next step, not to replace a licensed inspection. See our Methodology.

Sources

• U.S. EPA: Termites, identification and control.
• UC IPM: Drywood termites, including pellet identification, swarm timing, and inspection limits.
• UC IPM: Subterranean and other termites.
• UC IPM: Carpenter ants, including fibrous wood debris and identification differences.

UC IPM’s regional examples relate to California; local species and timing can differ elsewhere. Photo sources and licenses are credited with each image.