They re mainly a problem in the South. Subterranean termites are often detected during swarming, usually in the spring, when some fly from their nests to start new colonies. Other signs are shelter tubes primarily composed of mud on the surface of walls, joists, piers, chimneys, plumbing and other fixtures. Weak or broken structural members, blistered wood and soil in cracks can also be evidence of subterranean termites. Drywood termites sometimes give themselves away by creating surface blisters on wood and leaving wings or piles of waste that look like sawdust on windowsills and floors.
Termites work from the inside out and are very often hard to detect.
Especially drywood termites that have no link to the outside and spend their entire lives indoors in walls, in roofs, etc. Because a pest control operator has a trained eye and knows what to look for, his examination will be brief but thorough. He ll identify evidence of any previous treatments or infestations, any wood-destroying organisms present and the damage they ve caused, and any structural conditions that may make your home especially vulnerable to attack. The cost of an inspection varies. However, the fee is usually small.