Mud tubes — the clearest giveaway
Subterranean termites build pencil-thin mud tubes along walls, foundations, and pillars to travel between soil and wood while staying protected from open air. If you see these brownish tunnels anywhere near the plinth, it is almost always active termite activity, not just old damage.
Wood that sounds hollow or sags
Termites eat wood from the inside out, so the surface can look normal while the interior is hollowed. Tap on door frames, skirting boards, and furniture — a dull, hollow sound instead of a solid knock is a strong indicator.
Sagging floors, doors that suddenly stick, or paint that looks bubbled or blistered can also point to moisture and termite activity working together underneath.
Discarded wings and frass
After a termite colony matures, winged reproductives ("swarmers") fly out to start new colonies, then shed their wings once they land — finding small, uniform wings near windowsills or lights is a classic sign a colony is nearby.
Drywood termites leave behind frass — tiny, pellet-like droppings that look like sawdust — near infested wood.
What to do if you spot any of these
Do not disturb mud tubes or spray random insecticide on them — this scatters the colony and makes professional treatment harder later. Book a free inspection instead so a technician can confirm the extent of the infestation and recommend the right treatment (spot treatment vs. full drill-fill-seal) before it reaches structural timber.
