No homeowner wants to find an unexpected pile of poop, no matter how small it may be. While discovering that your pet had an accident is bad, seeing a potential pile of termite droppings may be substantially worse. Learn what you need to know about termite droppings and the importance of help from a professional pest control company, like Eliminate ‘Em, in termite prevention and termite extermination solutions, if needed.
Why should I be on the look out for termite droppings?
Termite droppings, which may also be referred to as termite poop or termite frass (the more scientific term) are often one of the earliest signs of a possible termite problem. Actively monitoring your home for these droppings can help uncover an infestation before significant damage is done. Of course, routine pest inspections and other preventative maintenance like exclusion and abatement services by a professional pest control company further reduce worries around this undesirable discovery and the potential costs associated with termite damage. As per home improvement resource, Angi, some damage may only cost a few hundred dollars but other damage can cost thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. While proactive pest management may require some initial investment and your own monitoring may take a little bit of time, proactively undertaking both of these efforts now may save you substantial headaches and heftier price tags in the future.
How can I identify termite droppings?
Given the connection between termite droppings and the danger of termite damage to your home, it’s vital for homeowners to keep their eyes peeled for poop. In general, termite droppings are minuscule and often similar in color to the wood and other materials that the termites consume. Consequently, frass is often compared to grains of sand for lighter wood or coffee grounds for darker materials. The shape of each individual dropping can be hard to see without magnification, so it’s usually only when termite droppings are in piles that this waste is more evident.
However, both the appearance and location of termite droppings may vary by the type of termite species. Below, find out more about what termite droppings look like for three of the most common termites:
- Piles of drywood termite droppings tend to be the ones that are most easily spotted. The reason for this visual clue is that these termites create holes in the wood, often referred to as kick-out holes, in which they reside to get rid of their waste. So, as drywood termites are consuming a baseboard or drywall unbeknownst to homeowners, tiny holes in this material and the piles of waste they may expel out of them may reveal their presence.
- Dampwood termites are more likely to use their poop to build nests or seal openings in the wood they are infesting. However, a build up of frass in the same spot or dry conditions may cause these termite droppings to fall off in a clump.
- Similarly, subterranean termites don’t waste their waste. Instead, they use it to make mud tubes and tunnels that connect their nests to food sources and serve various other purposes.
To make the identification of termite droppings even more challenging, termite droppings may also be confused with other pest waste, such as ant droppings. Consequently, calling an expert pest control provider near you is the best way to determine and correctly address the intruder that is currently posing a risk to your family and your home.
Where should I look for termite droppings?
Termite droppings can be found both inside the home and outside of it. Piles of termite droppings are most often near the wood in which termites reside, so checking places like window frames and sills and along baseboards is advisable. Outside, finding piles of droppings will be more difficult, but you may see other signs of termites in your yard made of fecal matter, wood, and other materials. For example, termite mud tubes may run along the foundation of a home. Essentially, look for termite droppings and other signs of termites anywhere that there may be a potential food source.
Could there be termite droppings hanging from my ceiling?
Yes, there could be termite droppings hanging from your ceiling. Termite droppings from the ceiling often result from an accumulation of termite frass and might look like a string of dirt or sawdust particles. Typically, this sign points to a more extensive infestation and the potential for substantial structural damage.
Is it possible to find termite droppings but no termites?
Yes, homeowners may find termite droppings but no termites. There are a few reasons that this experience may arise. Most likely, the termites infesting your home are simply staying hidden. Alternatively, the termites may have moved on from that initial location, and the waste simply wasn’t found or cleaned up. In some cases, the termite droppings may have remained from a previous termite elimination. However, sanitation and deodorizing are typically performed following a termite extermination or any other pest or wildlife removal for health reasons, odor elimination and as a measure against future infestations.
Do termite droppings smell?
While the waste products of cockroaches and mice might draw a homeowner’s attention, termite droppings don’t typically have a noticeable smell. However, termite infestations are sometimes associated with a mildewy scent, because they are attracted to rotting wood and immersed in the smell of it.
Are termite droppings dangerous to human or pet health?
Fecal matter is unsanitary. Consequently, special care needs to be taken to clean or get rid of items that have been contaminated. Unlike other intruders such as ticks, mosquitoes and bed bugs, which are designated by the EPA as public health pests, termites do not pose as great of a threat to the physical health of your household. While they aren’t known as disease carriers, their presence may exacerbate respiratory or allergy issues.
Worries about droppings and the presence of termites may also result in concern about termite bites. While termite bites are highly unlikely, given their preference for cellulose versus the blood that other bugs are after, disruption to their nests may result in bites. In the very rare case of a termite bite, skin irritation or swelling may occur. To reduce the potential impact of termite droppings and termite infestations in general on the health of your household, schedule professional pest prevention or termite extermination, if you even suspect an issue with termites.
What other dangers are associated with termite droppings from the ceiling or elsewhere?
Whether you find termite droppings from the ceiling, piles of termite frass near the living room window or mud tubes along your home’s foundation, both the structural integrity and the appearance of your home are in danger. Ignoring termite droppings increases the risk of more substantial and costly repair needs resulting from a termite infestation. Although termite droppings are not the cause of the following damage, they are a byproduct of the consumption that causes it:
- Termite frass on the ceiling signifies damage to that material, since termites may be actively consuming it. Consequently, ceilings may start to sag, paint may bubble, or cracks may start to appear.
- Whether termite droppings are on the ceiling, floor or anywhere else, the hidden termites nearby may be weakening associated wood and other materials. Flooring may start to peel or sag, depending on its makeup. Wood may sound hollow or creaky with movement.
- Through their consumption, termites may also damage materials like indoor or outdoor furniture or even books and papers.
- Furthermore, holes may appear in walls to remove waste or discoloration in ceilings or other surfaces may occur.
Are there other signs of termites besides droppings?
In addition to termite droppings, the damage caused by termites indicates their presence. Also, the swarmers in a colony are termites that fly, so you may find wings or dead termites near openings like windows or doors. These dropped wings can also be a helpful tool in determining whether a pest problem is the result of termites or carpenter ants, since they are often confused for each other. Other signs of termites include seeing them in flight, as well as finding mud tubes and tunnels on the property.
Termite Droppings and the Benefits of Professional Pest Control
“What should I know about termite droppings?” is only one of the common questions about termites that homeowners may have. From an understanding of termite colonies and their life cycle to the reasons that your property may be attracting termites, part of the value of professional pest control is letting these experts share and use their expertise. In the event that you encounter termite droppings from the ceiling or in other locations throughout your property, here are 4 important reasons to turn to a professional pest control company:
- Comprehensive coverage: The knowledge and skills of a termite specialist better enable them to provide the necessary and comprehensive care for your property. For example, termite technicians are better suited to using termite droppings to help understand the locations and extent of termite activity. Especially with insects like termites that can do such extensive and costly damage, thorough eradication and future protection are crucial. From pest identification and removal to sanitation and prevention strategies, working with a pest control expert is the best way to ensure that termite droppings, a termite infestation or any other pest or wildlife control issues can be remedied thoroughly and effectively.
- Long-term support: Can termite droppings be cleaned up by a homeowner? With guidance to ensure safety in doing so, sure, but basic clean-up doesn’t resolve the likely cause of that poop, a current termite infestation, nor will it prevent other potential pests or animal intruders. If you want to safeguard your loved ones and property against termites and any other problematic pests, professional pest control is essential. In addition to resolving any current issues related to the discovery of termite droppings more permanently than DIY measures are typically able to do, a pest control provider can offer continuous care for your property. From yearly inspections to attic and basement cleanouts, your local pest control experts like the ones at Eliminate ‘Em not only address current problems but also provide services to assure the long-term safety of your property. Additionally, establishing a support system for protecting your home against pests also helps provide peace of mind for homeowners.
- Reduced stress: Life can be stressful, and a professional team is not always ready and able to provide solutions during challenging times. However, in terms of pest control, the expert Eliminate ‘Em team can ease the burden that termite infestations and other pest problems can pose. Instead of worrying about how to handle termite droppings or what strategies can work to prevent them, all you need to do is contact your local Eliminate ‘Em team, and we’ll help you with any of the necessary solutions that your home may require.
- Financial planning: While finding termite droppings is typically not in any homeowner’s plan, budgeting for the well-being of your home can be. By scheduling routine preventative maintenance and inspections, homeowners have better control over their financial output when it comes to pests. Although ongoing pest control is an investment, its cost is typically lower than dealing with the expenses associated with a full-blown termite infestation, both in terms of eliminating it and making the necessary repairs. As discussed at Investopedia, reducing or better managing financial stress also helps minimize the likelihood of negative impacts on your physical health, like sleep disruption or digestive problems, or mental well-being.
Seeing termite droppings (or any other unknown fecal matter) means you need to call a professional pest control company now. Whether you are concerned about potential termites in New England or in any other location, both quick action and prevention are essential for reducing the damage that can be caused by these insects, not to mention many other bugs and wildlife intruders. Offering 24/7 service, Eliminate ‘Em is here to help homeowners in our service area with all of their pest control needs. Contact us for immediate assistance!
