March 1, 2026
September 17, 2026
What is the short answer?
Termite warning signs are mud tubes on foundation walls, discarded wings of equal length near windows after a spring swarm, wood that sounds hollow or gives under pressure, hard six sided pellets indicating drywood termites, and swarmers indoors. PestChief treats any one of these as reason to arrange a professional inspection.
Next: browse pest control by pest type, check national cost ranges, or see coverage by state and city.
What are the five signs of termites?
Four of the five are things you can see without opening a wall, and the fifth is an insect you are most likely to notice indoors in spring. Each points to a different termite situation, which is why which sign you find matters as much as finding something at all.
| Sign | Where to look | What it indicates |
|---|---|---|
| Mud tubes | Foundation walls, piers, crawlspace joists | Active subterranean termite travel |
| Discarded wings | Window sills, door frames, spider webs | A swarm happened in or near the structure |
| Hollow or blistered wood | Baseboards, door frames, sills, subfloor | Galleries eaten inside the wood |
| Hard six-sided pellets | Window sills, floors below infested wood | Drywood termites |
| Swarmers indoors | Near lights and windows in spring | An established colony in or under the structure |
Where should I actually look?
Termites need moisture and ground contact, so the search starts low and follows the damp. Five places account for most discoveries in a typical home.
- The crawlspace or basement, along sills, piers and joists near ground contact
- The garage, especially where the slab meets framing and around door frames
- Exterior foundation walls, behind mulch and against porch and patio slabs
- Window and door frames on the ground floor
- Anywhere with a known moisture problem, including under leaking plumbing and behind gutters that discharge at the wall
How urgent is it?
Termite damage develops over months and years, not overnight, so a discovery is a reason for a prompt inspection rather than panic. The exception is the Gulf South, where Formosan subterranean termites form very large colonies and work faster, and where LSU AgCenter and other regional extension services treat them as a higher-priority structural threat.
What does need to be quick is the inspection itself, because the treatment plan depends on identifying the species and mapping the activity before more wood is involved. The evidence you found is also what the inspector needs to see.
What should I not do?
Four common reactions destroy the evidence an inspector depends on, or give false reassurance.
- Do not remove mud tubes or damaged wood before the inspection; the evidence guides the treatment
- Do not spray the swarmers; it does nothing to the colony and removes the specimens needed for identification
- Do not patch or paint over damaged wood, which conceals the extent of the problem
- Do not assume a previous treatment is still protecting you, since barriers and warranties expire
Frequently asked questions
Do discarded wings mean I have termites?
Piles of equal-length shed wings near windows or doors indicate a termite swarm at or near the structure. Indoors, it usually means a colony is established in or under the building and an inspection is warranted.
How do I check if wood has termite damage?
Tap suspect wood and listen for a hollow sound, then press firmly with a screwdriver. Damaged wood gives way and may reveal galleries packed with soil for subterranean termites or clean galleries for drywood termites.
Can termites be active without visible signs?
Yes. Subterranean termites travel inside walls, under slabs and through hidden voids, which is why an annual professional inspection is recommended in areas with significant termite pressure.
How quickly do termites cause structural damage?
Meaningful structural damage generally takes months to years. Formosan colonies in the Gulf South work considerably faster than eastern subterranean colonies, so evidence there warrants quicker action.
Does a termite inspection cost anything?
Many companies inspect at no charge when quoting treatment, so ask before paying for a standalone visit. Angi's national figures put a termite inspection at $75 to $325 per inspection, and a home sale inspection at an average of $165. Keeping a bond or warranty in force is a separate recurring charge estimated at $200 to $400 per year. Those are national estimates from published sources, not quotes, and the company that inspects sets its own price.
How often should I check for termite signs myself?
Twice a year is a reasonable rhythm, in spring around the swarming period and again in fall. Check the crawlspace or basement, the garage, the ground floor window and door frames, and the foundation behind mulch.
Who wrote this page?
Written by the PestChief editorial team. PestChief does not spray, trap or treat pests, so nothing on this page is a treatment recommendation from a business that would be paid to carry it out. PestChief introduces homeowners to independent local pest control companies, and those companies pay for qualified introductions.
September 17, 2026
Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the published sources listed below.
Where does this information come from?
- US EPA, Termites
- LSU AgCenter
- USDA APHIS, Plant pests and diseases
- HomeGuide: Pest control prices
- Angi: How much does pest control cost?
- Forbes Home: Pest control cost
- Bob Vila: Pest control cost
- HomeAdvisor: Insect control service cost
- Angi: Termite inspection cost ($75 to $325 nationally, home sale visit average $165)