Termites can be a homeowner's worst nightmare. They can cause significant structural damage to homes, which often goes unnoticed until costly repairs are needed. However, knowing the warning signs of a termite infestation can help you take the right steps toward preventing or mitigating the problem.

Read on to learn more about termites, how to identify them, some of the more common species of termites in the United States, as well as the signs of a termite infestation in your home.

What are termites?

Termites are small insects of the order Isoptera that are usually less than a half-inch in length. These insects live in colonies with their own hierarchies. Termite colonies can vary in size, including just two termites -- a king and queen -- to a few hundred individuals. However, mature termite colonies can contain 60,000 to 1 million termites that can nest in the structure of a home, depending on the type of termite colony. These large colonies can quickly cause damage to wooden structures as they can destroy wood while foraging for food.

In addition to a king and queen, colonies are comprised of several other castes of termites, including reproductives, workers and soldiers. When a reproductive termite is ready to reproduce, it gains wings and flies off to mate and start a new colony. These male and female reproductive termites are called “alates" or “swarmers." While alates have wings, worker and soldier termites remain wingless.

Termites are found all around the world and there are more than 2,000 species. Approximately 50 of these species can be found in the United States, with roughly 20 species of termites that are classified as structural pests that can cause damage to property. Termites feed on wood for the cellulose -- the main ingredient in paper, cardboard, and wood.

What do termites look like?

In order to know if you have a termite problem, you must first be able to recognize what a termite looks like. Though there are many species of termites, these insects do tend to have a few characteristics in common. Here's what to look for when identifying termites:

  • White or brown bodies. Termites are often confused with ants, but they tend to be lighter in color than ants.
  • Broad waist. Unlike ants, who have thin waists like wasps, termites are broad-waisted.
  • Straight antennae. Ants have bent antennae, while termites' antennae are straight.
  • Legs. Termites, like ants, have six legs. However, the broader width of a termite's waist, coloring, and antennae shape can help make it easier to distinguish between the two insects.

What types of termites live in the U.S.?

There are a few different types of termites that call the United States home. To the untrained eye, these species may look the same. Below, we'll take a look at some of the most common types of destructive termites in the U.S., their behavior patterns and more so you can better learn to spot termite activity in your home.

Subterranean Termite

The subterranean termite is found throughout most of the United States (with the exception of Alaska) and in southeastern Canada. The most common subterranean termite is the Eastern subterranean termite. While the swarming termites are dark brown or black, worker eastern subterranean termites are white in color.

This species of termite can range between ⅜ to ½ inch in length. These termites often leave behind mud tubes in the foundation of a home. Other telltale signs of an eastern subterranean termite infestation include hollowed wood (tap on it and listen for the sound) and blistered flooring.

subterranean termite photo

Formosan Termite

Like the eastern subterranean termite, the Formosan termite lives underground. Formosan termites are actually called Formosan subterranean termites, as they belong to that species. Native to China, this species of termite is invasive in the United States and other countries around the world. The swarmers of the Formosan termite species are yellow-brown in color.

Like all other termite species, the Formosan termite is able to tell light from dark and stays in darker places to avoid predators. However, Formosan termites are especially destructive. They can eat anything containing cellulose, including wooden structures, trees, cardboard, and paper. And Formosan termite colonies generally grow quicker and are more destructive to homes.

formosan termite photo

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites don't live underground, meaning they can be found in different places in your home than the subterranean termites. Alates are roughly ½ inches in length, while soldiers are often ⅜ inches long. They can range between pale brown to dark brown or light yellow-tan in color. The winged alates can often be translucent or smokey grey in color.

Drywood termites are most common in warmer climates, particularly a narrow swath of land along the southern border of the U.S. One distinguishing feature of drywood termites is that they eat across the grain of wood, eating the harder layers compared to other species of termites that prefer softer layers. While these voracious termites will devour anything with cellulose found in wooden home foundation materials, you can also find signs of them in trees and fences as well.

drywood termite photo

Signs of termites in your home

Though it can be tricky to spot a termite infestation in your home, there are a few things you can look out for. Here are the most common signs of termites:

  • Hollow-sounding walls - Termites eat your walls from the inside out, which is why they're so difficult to spot. They will hollow out walls without emerging, and these walls will sound empty when you tap on them.
  • Buckling or blistered floorboards - Subterranean termites can damage your home's subfloor, which may be commonly mistaken for water damage.
  • Droppings - Drywood termites will leave behind piles of droppings, which resemble sawdust or coffee grounds.
  • Mud tubes - Subterranean termites will build mud tubes to protect them from the sun and air as they find a food source. You may see these tubes, about the width of a pencil, around the foundation of your home.
  • Dead termites or discarded wings - Seeing dead termites or discarded wings are evidence of a termite swarm and an indication that you may have new termite activity in your home.
mud tubes

What does termite damage look like?

Termite damage is distinct, and you'll be able to recognize it by the "waffled" or layered appearance of damaged wood. Termites can damage wooden walls, furniture and trees on your property. They will hollow these structures out, tunneling through them, leaving holes and empty spaces behind. Keep an eye out for small holes, hollow wood and anything that resembles water damage on wooden surfaces. Similarly, looking for mud tubes in walls, fences and other wooden structures may be among the telltale signs of termite damage.

termite wood damage photo

What to do if you have termites in your house

The warning signs of a termite infestation are easy to miss if you don't know what to look for. If you've noticed some of the signs above, chances are, your home may already be infested. It can be difficult to get rid of termites on your own, especially if the infestation is already more advanced. The best thing you can do is hire a termite control professional to provide treatment for the problem.

If you're wondering what to do if you find termites, your best bet is to call a professional. When you call in termite control professionals, they'll be able to recognize the type of termite in your home, and how far the infestation has progressed. Most termite treatment professionals have a working knowledge of entomology when they get their license. They have treatment options backed by science, and will be able to help take care of the infestation before the termites cause further damage.

If you think there are termites in your home, or if you want to prevent future infestations, call Terminix. We understand how difficult it is to deal with termites in your home, and how devastating termite damage can be.