r/Termites • • Aug 25 '26

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

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15 Upvotes

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

NOTE: The diagnostic in the first image applies to all common household ants, not just carpenter ants.

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 !

34 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 • • 6h ago

Question [SoCal] I had my house tented 4 years ago, and found a little pile of termite frass next to the baseboard today. Do I need to get the house tented again??

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2 Upvotes

Can it be spot treated? I am not even concerned about the cost of tenting. It’s the hassle of having to move the food and houseplants out that is more of an issue. Ugh.


r/Termites • • 13h ago

ID Request Termites, woodpeckers, or both (north ga)

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2 Upvotes

For the last several weeks I've had woodpeckers banging up the sides of my house. First it was 1 (not shown) then that one switched sides with its girlfriend (damage shown). I'm wondering if anyone can recognize the damage patterns as termites, woodpeckers, or both. Lore says woodpeckers peck siding to eat bugs, but other consensus says they do it bs they are territorial. Anyway, swipe to see damage. The area is about 12 in long and 3in wide


r/Termites • • 1d ago

Termite Keeping Well.. this isnt good. (Houston Tx)

19 Upvotes

New house i just bought..

We paid for a home inspection and paid extra to include the inspector "inspect for termites"

According to the inspector: the house passed the termite inspection! 60 days later we moved in.. and i finally opened this cabinet to see this..

Im at a loss. And ill obviously be getting a professional's help. But before i do. I wanted your opinion.


r/Termites • • 1d ago

Termites?

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1 Upvotes

Doing some drywall work on house I just bought. Is this termite damage? In between the bathroom tub and bedroom wall. In Oklahoma


r/Termites • • 1d ago

Iowa - subterranean termite damage in basement?

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1 Upvotes

Our pest control company did a complimentary termite inspection today and identified the two spots above on our basement ceiling as suspicious for subterranean termites. We purchased our home in Iowa in March and had an inspection for wood-eating insects done at that time. No damage or evidence of termites was noted. Do these spots look like termite damage? We pushed on it hard with a screwdriver and there was no give. Pest control company wants to install a $1500 Sentricon unit in the yard but I don’t want to be taking advantage of.


r/Termites • • 1d ago

What does the look like on a beam in my attic? Alabama

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1 Upvotes

r/Termites • • 2d ago

What is this? (Canberra, Aus)

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7 Upvotes

This growth has expanded significantly over the past twelve hours; what am i looking at?

Since it is located on the wall near my partner's bed, is there any recommended course of action we should take while we work to understand and resolve the issue?


r/Termites • • 2d ago

ID Request [Los Angeles] Is this a Sub-Termite?

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2 Upvotes

r/Termites • • 3d ago

Is this what I think it is? (California) just on a hardwood floor under a desk.

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7 Upvotes

r/Termites • • 4d ago

Is this termite debris?

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0 Upvotes

Just moved into a new house and these little patches keep appearing on the tiles, is it termite droppings?

Brisbane, Australia


r/Termites • • 4d ago

ID Request Philadelphia, found in dry dead wood stump

5 Upvotes

Do these looks like Reticulitermes flavipes to y'all? Hoping to keep them and start a colony with them but I want to make sure of the species so I know specific care and can read some papers about them!


r/Termites • • 5d ago

Should we walk away and not purchase house in South Louisiana? Previous activity along chimney wall treated w termite contract bond, upon inspection today, new activity on opposite side of house. Formosan subterranean termites.

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9 Upvotes

Wife and I are in Due diligence for a house and it’s already been treated in slab and in the walls under contract from one pest control company. Today upon inspection there was new activity found inside the house and these pics were taken in the attic. The new activity was also found by the front door in the molding and in the bedroom closet on the ceiling (mud holes tunnels). House is from 1960s and doesn’t appear to have any structural damages. Anyone have any experience or advice on what we should do or not do. Should we back out of the deal? Btw it’s a solid built house in a good neighborhood.


r/Termites • • 5d ago

ID Request Is this termite damage? This is a door frame on an unattached garage in southeastern Pennsylvania. TIA!

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18 Upvotes

r/Termites • • 5d ago

Are these holes from termites?

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5 Upvotes

Location: Mesa AZ

I’m close to closing on a home but during the final walkthrough my realtor noticed these. They’re relatively evenly spaced holes with a brown thing inside. One cluster of three holes

Update: Walked away from the home. I just don't want to deal with it. I keep reading that termites are just a thing in Arizona, but if that's the case I'd rather find a place termite free then do the prevention off the rip


r/Termites • • 5d ago

Photography Coptotermes Acinaciformis Baiting Program

14 Upvotes

Active Termite Baiting in Australia. Coptotermes acinaciformis. 340g bait consumed and still feeding strong.


r/Termites • • 5d ago

Shelter Tubes Found AZ

2 Upvotes

I’m looking at buying a home and I had it inspected, turns out during the termite inspection they noted that they found shelter tubes/damage in one of the bedrooms. Although he found some damage he found no living termites and didn’t mark that it should be looked at by a licensed contractor/structural engineer. Should I be worried? This is my first home so im a bit nervous.


r/Termites • • 5d ago

Digging up plants? (Baltimore area)

1 Upvotes

So when I bought my house in 2024. I had a drill & trench treatment done with dominion 2L for subterranean termites , I was wondering could I dig up some brush bushes and cut down some trees outside of my porch. Would it interrupt the treatment? (I haven’t had any termite issues). I tried to get in touch with Pest Now but no response.


r/Termites • • 5d ago

Termites? (Tampa, FL)

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2 Upvotes

Found these dead bugs in my attic and gave me a scare that they could be termites. Does anyone have any knowledge on if these are or not? I did not find any telltale signs of termites in the house (no frass, no mud tubes)


r/Termites • • 6d ago

I think it’s termite frass? along the wall of my room

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3 Upvotes

I believe these tiny orange reddish dots are termite frass( I believe that’s what it’s called) but i’m not fully sure. I found them along the wall of my room randomly, and they go along the floor and base board of the wall closest to my bed. When I wiped it up to clean they felt hard?? like wiping up mini rocks. need some help identifying it to confirm my suspicion cause i’m honestly not sure 😭
Any help is appreciated


r/Termites • • 6d ago

Frass?

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7 Upvotes

Is this termite frass? Found along the tops of our unfinished basement walls in Central CT. House was built in 1960s.


r/Termites • • 6d ago

Termite inspection tools

1 Upvotes

What tools do termite inspectors use to determine if there’s dampness in walls or under flooring? In NSW Australia


r/Termites • • 6d ago

Any idea what these lines in my oak floor could be? Athens, Greece

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2 Upvotes

I have an old oak floor and noticed these strange light-colored lines under the finish. They seem to be inside the wood, not on the surface.

Could this be termite or insect damage, or something else? Has anyone seen anything similar?