Not Sure What You're Looking At?
Many homeowners confuse different pests with termites. Here's a quick guide to what you might be seeing — and why it matters to get it right.
Termite castes shown to scale: alate/swarmer (left), worker (center), and soldier (right)
Drywood termite frass (fecal pellets) found near a kick-out hole
Leave behind small, six-sided fecal pellets that look like tiny grains of sand or coffee grounds. Often found in small piles on windowsills or below kick-out holes in wood.
Key fact: Established colonies typically require full tent fumigation by a licensed specialist.
Build distinctive mud tubes along foundations and walls. Cause more damage than drywood termites nationwide. Require soil-to-wood contact and moisture to survive.
Key fact: Treated with liquid soil treatments or bait systems. We handle subterranean termites directly.
The most aggressive and destructive termite species in the United States. A single colony can contain millions of individuals and cause severe structural damage in months, not years.
Key fact: Requires immediate professional intervention due to colony size and aggression.
Carpenter ants excavate wood but don't eat it — their damage looks different from termites. And those piles of debris? Big-headed ant and fire ant graveyards are often mistaken for drywood termite frass.
Don't guess. Send us a photo and we'll tell you exactly what it is.