Signs of Termites in Your Home (2026 Guide)

Termites are secretive insects — they consume wood from the inside out, making infestations difficult to detect until damage is significant. In Greater Los Angeles, homeowners need to know the signs of both drywood termites and subterranean termites, as both species are active in the LA basin year-round.

The most reliable way to confirm a termite infestation is a professional inspection. But knowing what to look for allows you to catch problems early and seek help before extensive damage occurs. The following signs are organized by termite species, since drywood and subterranean termites leave different evidence.

Drywood termites live entirely within the wood they infest — no soil contact required. They are LA's most common home-infesting termite, particularly in structures built before 1990.

1. Frass (Termite Droppings)
The most distinctive sign of drywood termite activity is frass — the hexagonal, pellet-shaped droppings that termites push out of kick-out holes in infested wood. Frass is typically tan to dark brown, resembles coarse sawdust or coffee grounds, and accumulates in small piles under the infested wood. You might find it on window sills, along baseboards, on countertops, or in corners of closets beneath infected structural members.

2. Swarmer Wings Near Windows
Drywood termites swarm in late summer and fall (August–October in LA). During a swarm, winged reproductive termites (alates) fly from mature colonies to start new ones. They are attracted to light and often end up on window sills, where they shed their wings. Finding small, equal-length wings (about 1/4 inch long, two pairs per individual) near windows after summer is a strong indicator of drywood termite swarm activity.

3. Hollow-Sounding Wood
Tap structural wood with a hard object. Termite-damaged wood that has been hollowed out from the inside sounds different from solid wood — a dull, papery, or hollow sound rather than a solid thud. This is most useful when checking wood beams, door frames, baseboards, and structural members in garages and attics.

4. Small Holes in Wood
Drywood termites create small, perfectly round exit holes (about 1/16 inch diameter) in wood surfaces when swarming. These holes are typically plugged between swarm events and can be easy to miss, but are clearly visible on close inspection of wood surfaces.

5. Blistering or Bubbling Paint on Wood
Drywood termite galleries near the wood surface can cause paint to blister or bubble, similar in appearance to water damage. If paint is blistering on a dry wall where there is no obvious moisture source, check the underlying wood for termite damage.

Subterranean termites are the most destructive wood-destroying organism in the US. They live in the soil and travel up to reach structural wood, requiring mud tubes to protect themselves from the open air.

1. Mud Tubes
The most definitive sign of subterranean termite activity is the presence of mud tubes (also called shelter tubes or termite highways) — pencil-width tubes of mud, soil, and termite feces running along foundations, concrete block walls, wood piers, pipes, and any other surface between the soil and wood above. Mud tubes are typically found:

• Along the exterior foundation wall
• On concrete piers or block foundations in crawl spaces
• Along interior walls where termites have traveled up from the soil
• On plumbing pipes that penetrate the slab

To test if a tube is active, break a section and check for live termites; return in a day or two to see if the tube has been rebuilt (indicating active colony).

2. Swarmers (Spring Activity)
Subterranean termite swarms in the LA area typically occur in late winter and spring (February–May), triggered by warm weather after rains. Finding winged termites (3/4 inch long, dark brown to black) or their shed wings indoors in spring is a strong indicator of a subterranean colony nearby.

3. Sagging Floors or Bubbling Laminate
Subterranean termites traveling through wood subfloor can cause floors to feel soft or springy in concentrated areas. Laminate flooring may bubble or separate at joints. This damage can resemble water damage — if there is no plumbing leak, termite inspection is warranted.

4. Damaged Wood Near the Foundation
Check wood within 18 inches of the ground, around the foundation, and any wood-to-concrete contact points. Probe with a screwdriver — termite-damaged wood will have a hollowed, layered appearance with soil packed into the galleries.

Termite evidence can be confused with damage from other insects. The key differences:

Termites vs. Carpenter Ants:
Both damage wood, but carpenter ants excavate clean, smooth galleries and produce coarse sawdust (not the hexagonal frass of drywood termites). Carpenter ants do not consume wood — they remove it. Termite galleries are lined with soil or feces and often have a dirty, rough appearance. See our full comparison: Termite vs Carpenter Ant: How to Tell the Difference.

Termite Frass vs. Sawdust:
Drywood termite frass is hexagonal in shape (visible under magnification) and uniform in size. Sawdust from wood-boring beetles or power tools is irregular. If you are finding unexplained 'sawdust' that was not there yesterday, termite frass is likely.

Termites vs. Powderpost Beetles:
Powderpost beetles produce very fine, flour-like powder and leave tiny, perfectly round exit holes about 1/32 inch in diameter. Drywood termite exit holes are slightly larger (1/16 inch). Both infest hardwoods but are treated differently.

Certain areas of your home carry higher termite risk in the LA climate:

• Attic: Drywood termites commonly infest the roof framing, ridge board, and rafters. This is often where infestations first establish.
• Garage: Garage door frames, sheathing, and any unpainted or poorly sealed wood in garages are prime drywood termite targets.
• Subfloor and crawl space: In homes with raised foundations, the subfloor joists and beams are primary targets for subterranean termites.
• Exterior wood trim: Window frames, door frames, and decorative wood trim are entry points for drywood termite swarmers.
• Porches and deck connections: Any wood close to or in contact with soil is at highest risk for subterranean termites.

Homes built before 1980 in the San Gabriel Valley, Gateway Cities, South Bay, and foothill communities have the highest statistical termite rates in Greater LA.

Call LA Pest Pros for a free professional termite inspection if you have seen any of the signs above, or if your home has not been inspected in more than 3 years. Annual inspections are recommended for all LA homes given the year-round termite pressure.

Do not attempt to treat a suspected termite infestation yourself with retail products — surface sprays and foam products provide minimal penetration and will not address a colony established in structural wood. Call (213) 555-0187 — we cover 42 cities across Greater LA and respond within 15 minutes. See also: Termite Treatment Cost in Los Angeles 2026.

Call (213) 555-0187 for a free inspection and written assessment. LA Pest Pros serves 42 cities across Greater Los Angeles. 15-minute callbacks during business hours.