Termite Droppings But No Termites: What Does it Mean?
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Whether you own a home or lease one somewhere in New Jersey, you’ve probably dealt with insects a few times. Some of them come during the spring months, while others tend to bother you year-round. If you rent your home, you have the luxury of calling the landlord to handle your pest control issues, but owning a house means taking care of such matters yourself. The problem? The longer you let issues go thinking you can manage them on your own, the more complex it will be to eliminate them. Such is the case with termites. Spring will soon be here in the Garden State, and termites and carpenter ants will swarm before long. When you discover termite droppings but termites what does this indicate? The physical likeness between termites and carpenter ants becomes clear when you compare them together. Still, every year, we get calls from frantic people with an ant infestation who believe they have termites. Please make no mistake, both insects can significantly damage your home, so it’s right to call for help.
The termite stands out as the most ominous insect due to its potential to cause catastrophic damage worth thousands. What signs can help you determine if you are dealing with termites? The most visible sign that termites inhabit your home is the droppings or frass located near their nesting areas.
In our experience, when dealing with the dry wood termite, you will notice the frass long before you see any of these critters. It’s highly unlikely that you will see any droppings if you have subterranean termites, as they prefer to stay hidden underground. While the dry wood termite isn’t highly social, they don’t mind coming closer to your dwelling quarters and out of the basement and crawl space areas.
Why is There Frass but No Live Termites?
You might see termite droppings but no termites crawling around your home. What are you supposed to do as you have a sinking feeling in your stomach that you can’t let go? Can termites just up and disappear, vanishing into thin air? Well, this will not likely happen, as most dry wood termites will move onto another area within the dwelling to eat, but stranger things have happened.
You have a right to be concerned if you see termite droppings and no live bugs. Such sightings can indicate an infestation, but it doesn’t always mean a termite issue.
Here are some common stools that are often mistaken for termites.
Termite Droppings But No Termites? Could Be One of These Imposters!
Carpenter Ants
Many insects leave behind frass, and another one that might be leaving those piles of fecal matter is the carpenter ant. Ant poop is not easy to see, but if you have carpenter ants that have invaded your home, they can look eerily like termite droppings. This is one reason you might see termite droppings but no termites. The only way you can successfully tell the two apart is by getting up close and personal with them.
Using a magnifying glass, you will see that the poop left by carpenter ants is much larger. Additionally, you might see little ants mixed within the fecal matter as the carpenter ants feast on the smaller varieties. Ants like to poop outside the entrance to their nest, like the dry wood termite.
However, the underground subterranean varieties use their fecal matter to construct mud tubes, so you won’t find any frass from them.
Roaches
Roaches are unwanted houseguests because they enter kitchens and spread germs by contaminating both food and surfaces. Homeowners can mistake cockroach feces for termite frass because both appear similar to coffee grounds or large pepper specs. The larger a cockroach species is the bigger its droppings become which explains why people often mistake them when they see termite droppings but no termites present.
Roach droppings feature side ridges and flat ends which become visible to the naked eye with the help of magnifying glass examination. Termite droppings appear lighter compared to roach droppings which typically show a dark black color. The termite frass also depends heavily on the wood they’ve eaten, as it can make it darker or lighter.
Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees also buzz about in the springtime and drill holes into wooden structures so it’s easy to see why you might see termite droppings but no termites—it could be from these buzzing wood destroyers . You will especially notice these around the perimeter of your home. If you see frass-like material, it may be nothing more than sawdust.
See, carpenter bees drill holes in your wood around the eves, so it’s possible to see these piles of sawdust on the porch or outside. Sawdust matter is distinct because they appear flat and tiny instead of pellets. There may even be a curl in the wood shavings. Even if you don’t have termites, if you spot piles of sawdust, it’s cause for alarm.
The good news is that while carpenter bees can damage your home, they don’t do near the damage of termites. They only use their mouth to carve and get into the wood but never eat it. So, the amount of damage is minimal.
Wood Borer Beetles
Beetles may be the explanation for the frass you see as they can damage wood, too, and create unique fecal matter. Don’t fret, though, as beetles can’t do a fraction of the termite’s damage. The most common wood boring beetles include Deathwatch, false powder post, and regular powder post beetles. The three species’ frass is different but can be the culprit if you see termite droppings but no termites.
Although discovering termite frass in your home can make your stomach queasy, it’s not hazardous like other vermin droppings. However, people who have dust allergies may have mild to severe reactions to them. Termite damage can also encourage harmful mold and fungus growth in your house.
Time to Call the Professionals
Cheap DIY termite remedies make sense now, but they could cost you thousands in the long run. Instead, consider calling a professional exterminator. They can inspect your home for termite damage and effectively treat the problem.
No matter where you live in New Jersey, your home is one of your most expensive and necessary investments. Don’t leave your family’s safety and your home’s structural integrity to time and chance. Call our experienced and knowledgeable exterminator technicians for a termite inspection today.
