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Mud shelter tubes or tunnels are the most common signs of subterranean termite infestation, but here are seven more factors to consider:
- damaged exterior wood that contains soil or termite carton material (mixture of soil, chewed wood and excrement) in porches, fences, garages, roof eaves, and window and door trim;
- damaged interior wood or walls, including baseboards, hardwood floors, and wood around plumbing accesses;
- damaged wood in basements or crawlspaces, especially where the foundation meets the walls, sill plates, box joists, sub flooring, and around support piers;
- cracked, blistered or distorted paint on wood surfaces and/or cracked or uneven sheetrock;
- groups of winged termites called alates (swarmers) or discarded wings;
- above-ground nests, or arboreal termite nests that look like growths on trees (not common in the U.S., but noted in South Florida); and
- areas of water leakage, or raised or split floors.
Brian Mount, BCE, is Technical Service manager for FMC Professional Solutions.
