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What do termites look like? Great question! They are small insects that are yellowish-brown, brown, or black and average around ⅛-¼ “ long. They look similar to ants with a body, antennae, and sometimes wings. The queen can grow to 1 “ in length which is much larger than the rest of the colony.
What Do Termites Look Like? Know the Signs.
Soon spring will bring about new life and a renewed freshness in the Garden State, but it also brings many pests back from hibernation. For homeowners dealing with termites, they’re always there. But termites swarm during the spring months as they prepare to make the nuptial flight, which is when you are more likely to notice them. So how will you know what you’re seeing—what do termites look like?
Fact Finding: How to Recognize Termites
Young termites can be difficult to see, but as they grow they are easier to spot. They do not have hard exoskeletons like ants and many insects, but rather a soft body. They vary from a light yellowish-brown color to black and under a magnifying glass, some termites appear almost translucent. Other differences from ants is that termites have straight antennae and a straighter waist with uniformly shaped wings. If you are trying to figure out what termites look like, then you first need to know which one you are looking at.
If the termites you see are pale with no wings and only ¼” long then you are seeing what a worker termite looks like. On the other hand, soldiers while being roughly the same size, have big, dark heads with strong mandibles. The reproductive termites are known as swarmers or alates and are dark brown to black with clear wings. Being able to identify termites can be super helpful because of their varied appearance.
Now that you know what termites look like, let’s figure out how to recognize other signs that you could have a termite issue.
Signs You Might Have Termites
Unlike ants who hibernate in their nests for the winter, termites inside your home don’t need to seek warmth. Your home provides them with food and shelter, precisely what they need to thrive. In New Jersey, you mainly deal with subterranean termites, which live underground. Additionally, we also see dry wood termites in this region.
The subterranean varieties are more apt to hibernate in the winter, but the dry wood finds your home a toasty refuge of safety. So, it’s possible to have termite issues for years, and they go unnoticed until significant damage has been done. That’s why the question of “What do termites look like?” comes up often. Many factors come into play when determining the type of termite you’re facing, especially the size of the infestation, the appearance of the termites, and the age of the colony.
Some termites build mounds to dwell in, and through soil tests the oldest one on record is 690 years old. It’s easy to see that they don’t get in a big hurry to leave once they settle into an area.
Identifying Termite Holes
Homeowners fear termites when they see any holes in their homes’ wooden beams or other structural elements. Before you panic, you need to realize there are lots of reasons why there might be holes in your wood—including other insects, but you should always investigate further. If it’s a termite hole, it will be about one-eighth of an inch in diameter. More info?
Termites often migrate to find more food. So rather than leave your home unkempt, they try to cover these holes with cement they make from excrement. The nymphs do this tedious job within the colony, and you’ll seldom see a hole that goes uncovered. If you see these around your home, it’s a good indicator you might have termites.
Once the swarmers set on their journey to find a mate, the nymphs spring to action to seal off the entry and exit. Since you’re likely not accustomed to seeing these holes, it’s always best to have a pest control professional investigate for you. We have ample experience with termites, so we know what termites look like and can quickly identify if these are new or old holes—or if they’ve been caused by something other than termites.
Termite holes are often called exit holes, meaning they leave your home to build a nest elsewhere. You only see these with the dry wood termites, as the subterranean like to keep their nest underground. If you’re dealing with the subterranean type, you will likely see mud tubes so they can travel incognito.
Key Factors
An early warning sign that there are termites in the home are these knock-out holes, but it actually means they’ve been there for some time. Since you can get holes of all shapes and sizes in your wood, knowing what to look for is best. Knowing what termites look like and the holes they leave behind is vital. A termite hole is about the size of a BB pellet.
Since termites are so small, they don’t need a lot of space to travel in and out of your home. When the holes are sealed over, they look like they’ve been sealed with paste. This cement is made from their frass aka excrement. Termites use saliva and feces to make a paste that dries rock-hard. This allows the nymphs to seal the exit hole to signal that it’s time to move on.
Signs of an Infestation
You know that knock-out holes are one way to see that you’ve got a termite problem, but there are other issues that you should look for too when figuring out how to recognize termites. Here are some of the most common:
Discarded Wings
During the spring, another thing that you often see is spider webs. Look closely at those webs because you just might see that some termite wings are tangled within them. Swarmers grow wings that they use to find a mate and only need these parts for a short season.
Once the mating rituals are over, they discard their wings as they’re unnecessary for daily life. So, you may see piles of discarded wings along their pathways or in spider webs.
Weak or Leaning Structures
Another giant issue that’s often discovered when the damage is irreversible is structural problems. Have you ever seen an uneven floor or a porch sinking on one side? Many things can cause these issues, but termites and their constant chewing can also cause them.
Over time, the constant digging into the wood weakens beams and other structures, and the damage they cause can allow the porch to collapse or be unsafe. Once the damage reaches these levels, it’s time to make significant repairs to secure the structure. Sadly, many people don’t realize they have an issue till it gets this bad. That’s why it’s so important to know what termites look like as well as to understand their habits
Knocking on wood is one way to identify structural issues before something falls or breaks. Solid wood will have little sound, but wood damaged by termites sounds hollow and produces an echo. Since the termites eat the wood from the inside out, it’s easiest to find them by doing a knocking test.
Blistering Paint
Have you ever seen moisture get behind a wall and cause a bubble in the paint or drywall? Termites can cause a similar effect, though it’s not likely to be as significant. These bubbles are generated from the moisture that gets into the wall through their constant chewing.
These little insects use the saliva in their mouths to get through that wood, so all that moisture harms the wall. Any bubbles that appear should be investigated, as none of the reasons they form are good.
Mud Tubes
As discussed before, mud tubes are created by underground or subterranean termites. They don’t use the same pathways as the dry wood termite because they prefer to stay in total darkness and remain secretive. They make these tubes as a highway system to travel from the nest to the place where they feed. The tubes can be pretty intricate and are fascinating to look at, but if you can’t figure out what termites look like because they have stayed hidden, then mud tubes are solid proof of an issue.
Frass or Droppings
One of the most significant indications of a dry wood termite issue is frass, in other words—termite poop. What do termites’ droppings look like? We’re glad you asked! These little pellets look like grains of sand. They leave them in piles along their most traveled pathways.
You might mistake it for something else, but it’s excrement from the wood’s cellulose they’ve consumed. Also, note that the frass can change colors based on their diet. If they’re eating cedar or redwood, it might look quite different than a termite that’s dined on pine or oak.
Strange Mold and Mildew Smells
Another common complaint we often hear is that people have a strong mold or mildew smell but can’t find the source. Any home inspector will tell you that if you don’t have an issue with mold after being checked, the next place you should turn is to pest professionals like our expert team at Kapture Pest Control. We know what termites look like and the best ways to treat them successfully.
Oddly, termites produce a musty odor and can smell like an old, wet basement. So, if you’re trying to figure out what do termites look like, but still can’t see them…follow your nose.
The Importance of a Termite Inspection
Have you noticed things inside your New Jersey home that make you nervous about termites? Maybe, you’re still not sure what termites look like or their signs and you just want an inspection to put your mind at ease. We’ve helped hundreds of people in this area take control of their homes and eliminate termites.
When in doubt, it’s always best to have us check it out. The moment you recognize the signs of termites and the damage they cause, give us a call. A qualified Kapture technician will complete a detailed inspection to ensure there’s no activity within your home.