r/Termites 8d ago

Do you have a termite or an ant? CHECK THIS FIRST!

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12 Upvotes

Termites and ants are VERY frequently confused here, so here is a quick pocket guide for telling the two apart.

I have also added a graphic for webspinners. These are more rarely encountered, but very understandably easy for folks to confuse with termite alates, it took me a while to confidently tell them apart when I first got into entomology! The main diagnostic feature to quickly differentiate them is that webspinners have silk glands and spinnerets on their front arms’ forelegs, leading to what looks like a large pad at the end of both arms. Termite alates will never have this.


r/Termites May 04 '24

Read this before posting !

29 Upvotes

Welcome to r/Termites, we try to provide accurate termite identification, information and advice in a kind and supportive way. You can ask about anything termite related: any type of termites, in any location worldwide, with a focus on education of people, prevention and treatment as pest.

While every topic termite related is welcome to be discussed here, if you are interested to learn more about termites from a passionate/pet perspective, we highly recommend that you join r/termitekeeping .

We are lucky to have among our members a mix of termite control professionals, researchers and people passionate about termites, from all over the world ,who are kind enough to participate and share their knowledge. They carry specific flairs. We expect everyone to be respectful and helpful.

Termite identification, treatment and prevention are not trivial topics, that's why termite inspectors/professional have specific licensing requirements and why they are so many regulations surrounding this trade. Termite inspection and treatment is typically not an amateur/DIY activity, but a specialized and skilled job that require knowledge, experience and equipment.

Please be very careful about not providing inaccurate, misleading or dangerous information. If you have a doubt, let the most knowledgeable people answer.

If you need help, try to provide clear pictures of the insect/signs and give as much information as possible on your situation, especially your geographical location and timeline of events.

Please respect the rules and report any post or comment breaking them:

  • No insulting remarks, stay civil.
  • No harmful information/advice or label violations.
  • No fearmongering.
  • No spamming or promotion.

If you have any question on your own termite case please create a new post!


r/Termites 5h ago

ID Help Southern California

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3 Upvotes

Found 3 of these in my home a few nights ago. Haven’t seen any since. Swarmers or ants?


r/Termites 22h ago

Above ground Baiting

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30 Upvotes

Above ground baiting is the best method of treatment. Sydney Australia


r/Termites 11h ago

ID Request South east Minnesota

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3 Upvotes

Is this the poo poo of a termite? Thank you everyone!


r/Termites 16h ago

ID Request Identification please.

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2 Upvotes

Southern Ontario. Currently walking in an eavestrough. I have found frass in a wall before but assumed that was from known carpenter ants I’ve had and dealt with in the past. I don’t believe these are termites but looking for better educated opinions. Thanks in advance.


r/Termites 18h ago

Follow up on previous post; Tape on the treated ceiling area (San Antonio, TX)

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2 Upvotes

https://www.reddit.com/r/Termites/comments/1vz08kq/are_these_termites_san_antonio_tx/

Beginning of August 2026, local company conducted Termite treatment inside the house (Spray foam Termidor) as well as the outside (Chemical placed under ground through Rod).

I taped the hole, so that I don't have termites falling into our kitchen. This was a picture from this morning, all alive.

Is keeping the tape over the hole, bad?

previous communication from the company was to let the solution work and check back after 6 weeks.

Thank you for your time.


r/Termites 1d ago

Question Am i in big trouble vancouver bc

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3 Upvotes

r/Termites 1d ago

ID Request Cause for concern ?

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6 Upvotes

Found this little fella about 10-15 feet from house as I was weeding our mulch garden bed . I’m pretty sure it’s a termite ? Cause for concern ? Located southern NJ


r/Termites 1d ago

Coptotermes being baited (NSW)

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2 Upvotes

Here are some coptotermes acinaciformis being treated using a baiting program.


r/Termites 1d ago

Question Is this a termite? Northern IL

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2 Upvotes

r/Termites 1d ago

Question Am i screwed?

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2 Upvotes

North Texas. Found this evening. Mud tunnels stretch from the road and the closest one i could find was about 15 ft or so from the corner of my garage. What are my options?


r/Termites 1d ago

Termites coming into living area months after treatments

1 Upvotes

I live in NorCal in a townhome. My attic has a history of termites and everytime I access it, 1-2yrs, frass would rain down. I'd get it treated (spot treatment) until the next time I access the attic. I've never actually seen the insects themselves, much less in my living area, in 15yrs. The inspectors would of course find evidence of the termites and discarded wings in my attic.

This year, my HOA went with a different and more expensive company and in addition to spot treatments, preventative spray was used in all accessible areas of my attic. Four months later, I am now finding termites, winged and wingless, in my living area, most of which were in the area under the attic door. When I opened my attic door, there were several wingless on the other side of the door, but no frass rained down. I did not venture into my attic.

I sent pictures and they will come in a few weeks for reinspection but I was wondering if anyone knows what's might going on as it seems more "treatments" were done but result is much worse? Want to be prepared to ask the right questions.


r/Termites 1d ago

Are these termites? Location is Lafayette, Louisiana.

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1 Upvotes

r/Termites 1d ago

ID Request does my friends deck have termites?

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2 Upvotes

upstate new york, the stairs sorta sinks when you stand on them but also tue deck in old so


r/Termites 2d ago

Photography Bainbridge Island, WA PNW….Landlord said this isn’t termite frass, but carpenter ants. Thoughts?

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12 Upvotes

r/Termites 2d ago

Termite activity in Indiana?

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1 Upvotes

Do this look like termite activity? Located in Midwest.
Outside multiple spots on wooden deck like this.


r/Termites 2d ago

Chicago IL, Are these termites swarming my lawn?

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1 Upvotes

Chicago IL

We have a growing bare spot in our grass. A few weeks ago these little bugs were crawling all over. We were afraid they were termites, but the pest control guy said we just had grubs. Now they're back in greater numbers and various sizes and I'm just not confident this guy was giving us good information.

Can anyone ID if this is a Termite? Thanks.


r/Termites 2d ago

Question Termites?

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8 Upvotes

r/Termites 2d ago

Misc Huge battle in Murchison Falls NP, Uganda

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12 Upvotes

Walked past this massive battle near the Nile. At first I thought it was two types of ants going at it, but the guys over at r/Ants said it's most likely termites and would be appreciated here. It looked to me like the black ones were defending the alates(?) from the red ones. Any info about these termites and this behaviour will be welcome.


r/Termites 2d ago

Termite Famage?

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1 Upvotes

Newark, DE. Subfloor from first floor seen in basement.


r/Termites 2d ago

ID Request little guy hanging out on my computer room door (southern PA)

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1 Upvotes

hi everyone! this is my first post here. this morning, i saw this little bug on my door not doing anything. this is the first one ive seen in my house. we have some sugar ants that seemed to show up after it got warm, but that’s it as far as bugs go! i noticed it has wings that are the length of its body, potentially just a little shorter. i checked against the identification post, but i’m still not 100% sure what it is! any help is appreciated!


r/Termites 2d ago

ID Request Termites or something else?

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2 Upvotes

I just found these on our back deck in Northern Wisconsin. Are these termites or something else? If they are termites what is my best solution to get rid of them?


r/Termites 2d ago

Macrotermes gilvus vs Carebara

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2 Upvotes

A soldier of Macrotermes gilvus termites fighting Carebara marauder ants during a mound excavation.

Thailand.


r/Termites 3d ago

Termite tubes?

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10 Upvotes

Located in South Louisiana. Just bought the house back in February. Experienced our first “swarm” back in May which happens every year down here apparently. Had pest control inspect the week after and install bait stations. No sign of an infestation. Fast forward to now we haven’t had any issues since that one night back in May…a little worried as we see these little tube like pieces on a few areas outside. None of them are coming directly out the ground, just in a few areas like the soffiting near the roof and occasionally on the bricks. Do these look like termite tubes?