Preparing for Subterranean Termite Inspections

Subterranean termites can be scary for homeowners. Since they don’t know much about them or what the signs are, they look to us as pest management professionals to give them accurate inspections and guide them through their options.

These termites are social insects usually located in soil or wood and have high moisture requirements, which generally cause them to maintain some type of soil contact, unless there are special circumstances. They can enter structures through cracks less than 1/16-inch wide, giving them ample opportunity to enter any structure you will inspect. If a constant source of moisture is available (like leaky pipes), colonies can exist above ground without ground contact.

A question I get asked often is, “How many years are required before a newly constructed building will show signs of a subterranean termite infestation?” If a pair of swarmers starts a colony around the time of construction, at least three or four years will pass before even a few swarmers will be produced. Evidence of damage typically will take longer to detect. However, if the structure is built over or close to a strong existing colony, swarmers may appear within a year. In this situation, damage might be noticed within a year since an established colony is already present.

An inspection for subterranean termites seeks to find visible evidence of termite activity. It is a snapshot in time for conditions that were visible to you on the day of the inspection. The inspection does not guarantee that termites are not present but allows you an opportunity to search for termites in the parts of a structure that are visible. All structures have inaccessible areas, so being able to see everything is unrealistic. However, there are tools that can help us to determine if there has been termite activity at a structure.

PREP YOUR TOOLKIT. A multitude of tools are available to you as a termite inspector. What follows is a list of common tools to use during an inspection. Additional tools may be necessary given the circumstances. You should have any additional tools you prefer for an inspection available to streamline your time.

Flashlights are probably the most important tool you will need for both safety and functionality. An LED flashlight with a high candlepower output will provide you with the best visibility and allow you to see evidence of termite activity. You should always have extra batteries and a spare flashlight available in case the primary flashlight dies or is misplaced.

A hard hat or bump cap will provide you with head protection if you are in a location that could injure your head while inspecting. These are very helpful in crawlspaces or other tight areas where the risk of injury is higher. As an added bonus, they also help keep cobwebs out of your hair.

Knee pads will protect your knees immediately and for years to come. If you are using good knee pads, they will protect you from that screw that was missed during clean-up. Using knee pads as a habit also will reduce the wear and tear on your body, allowing you to keep doing what you love for years.

Using coveralls while performing an inspection will help keep your uniform cleaner and you safer in certain circumstances. If you are in a crawlspace or other tight quarters, the coveralls provide an additional layer of protection. This will help reduce the number of cuts you receive and help you stay clean for the rest of your services that day.

Using a probe (typically a screwdriver) will allow you to get a “feel” for the wood and determine if there has been any damage. This can be done by carefully probing any wooden surface and seeing if there is any penetration. Don’t gouge the wood. It is unnecessary and devalues the service you are offering. A screwdriver can be used to access other areas such as crawlspaces, bath traps and other access panels that would not be accessible otherwise. The handle can be used as a sounding tool, allowing you to hear irregularities in the wood.

Mirrors can be used to see in areas with limited visibility. They usually can fit in areas that you cannot fit in or view. You can shine a light on a mirror to change the direction of the light to help with visibility in certain circumstances.

A moisture meter can be helpful in certain circumstances to locate areas of high moisture content and allow for a more focused inspection for subterranean termites.

Notepads are useful for recording observations. These can include evidence of termite activity, conducive conditions, inaccessible areas, damage and anything else relevant to the inspection. Additionally, an initial diagram can be made on the notepad for any future treatments that need to occur.

They say a picture’s worth a thousand words, so a camera is also useful for documenting observations relevant to the inspection, similar to what you would document on your service report.

READ THE SIGNS. Numerous signs can indicate that termite damage has taken place. Although these are not conclusive for current activity, they can show that a particular area has been hit by termites, which are very possibly still in the area unless a treatment has taken place.

Mud tubes are probably the most recognizable sign of termite activity. These small tubes of mud (about the size of a pencil in diameter) allow termites to move back and forth between their food source, keep their colony protected from the elements and keep their moisture levels up. The tubes are typically found against a structure but can be suspended in midair, similar to a stalactite or stalagmite. Other times, they can be suspended between items to create a mud tube that looks like a suspension bridge. I have seen them coming straight out of the middle of cinderblock walls. The lesson here is that they don’t always have to start from the ground.

Finding swarmers inside a house is usually quite upsetting for a homeowner. Many of them panic, thinking there is an infestation and their house is going to fall down because they do not know what to expect from a termite swarm. Others think the alates are just ants due to lack of knowledge. We must be able to accurately identify the differences so we can give the homeowner the best direction. Swarmers are commonly found around a porch, door, joint in the foundation/floor or by windows trying to get out of the home.

A pile of wings is another sign that swarmers have emerged in the recent past. This is particularly true if an individual has seen “flying ants” recently. Only finding wings is important, since termites pull their wings off shortly after landing and finding a mate, while ants keep their wings attached. These are very commonly found around windows.

Termite castles are another sign that termites have been present at a location. These look very similar to mud tubes, but you will find a cluster of them, and they are usually a little thicker than mud tubes. These are built around the time a colony releases swarmers. It’s common to find these after the swarm has occurred.

Finding damaged wood is another tell-tale sign of termite activity. This “wood” can be a sill plate in the basement, a door frame, a cardboard box in the corner or the picture frame that someone was moving off the wall. Termites don’t care where the cellulose-based product is located or what it creates. One not-so-obvious sign of damaged wood is finding bubbled or peeling paint that looks similar to water damage. Termites will pop out in some of the oddest spots that you wouldn’t think would be feasible. Don’t dismiss the homeowner who describes finding something odd on the second story with no damage on the ground level. They may have stumbled upon an issue that was hidden away for years that will require a substantial treatment.

FINAL THOUGHTS. Since subterranean termites are the most common and widely distributed termite in North America, odds that you will run across them are pretty high, unless you live in northern states. Knowing what you are looking for and what tools to utilize to protect yourself can be helpful when assessing a situation and helping your clients. Make sure you are performing a detailed inspection, and be as transparent as possible with your findings. This will allow customers to make an informed decision on what the next steps will be if termites are found and if they want a preventive treatment done on their property.

David Moore is a board certified entomologist who received his master’s degree in entomology from Virginia Tech. He serves as the manager of technical services for Dodson Bros. Exterminating.