Termites are a nightmare pest and can cause significant damage to your home. Droppings are a key indicator of a termite infestation, but what does termite poop look like – and what should you do if you find it at home?
What do termite droppings look like?
Droppings are often the first indication that you have a pest infestation, but what do termite droppings look like?
Termite poop (AKA termite frass) can be hard to spot, as the individual droppings are very tiny. They come in a range of wood colors, and can vary from beige to black.
Small piles of termite poop may accumulate below the wood holes made by termites.
For this reason, termite frass is easily confused with sawdust (which is another sign that you may have termites). Termite droppings are granular pellets that are typically hexagonal in shape. Sawdust particles are flatter and will look like tiny slivers of wood.
How can you tell termite droppings apart from Carpenter ant poop?
Carpenter ants are another type of wood-damaging pest that can cause significant damage to your house. Their droppings look very similar to termite frass, but there are a few subtle differences that can help you to tell them apart.
RoyBuri/Pixabay.com
Firstly, Carpenter ant droppings are larger and bulkier than termite poops, and often contain particles of wood shavings. Termite droppings are much finer, and look more like sand or sawdust. Termite droppings are also more likely to be scattered around, whereas Carpenter ants typically leave their droppings in little piles.
What should you do if you find termite droppings in your house?
Termite droppings can be an alarming find, so what should you do if you find them at home?
Schedule an inspection
Finding termite droppings at home is definitely a cause for concern, as infestations can cause massive structural damage to the buildings they infest. Termites are thought to cause around $40 billion worth of damage globally each year, and can land you with a hefty home repair bill if left unseen.
So, the first thing you should do upon finding suspected termite poop is to schedule a visit from a professional exterminator.
They will be able to properly assess the situation, determine the nature and scale of the infestation, and put together an integrated control plant to eradicate the insects.
Cleaning up termite poop
If you find termite poop at home, leave it until place until you can schedule an appointment with an exterminator. They will use it in their evaluation to determine whether or not you have termites. Termite frass is not toxic and doesn’t pose any known health threats to humans, and can be easily cleaned up with soap and warm water.
However, the particles are very fine and can trigger asthma and allergies in sensitive individuals, so it is best to keep the area well ventilated while cleaning.
Conclusion
Finding termite droppings at home can be very concerning, as termite infestations can cause serious structural damage to your property. If you find suspected termite frass in your attic, crawlspaces, or other areas of your home, schedule an inspection with your local pest control professional right away.