What does wood look like when termites eat it?

"I’m worried termites may be damaging my home. What does it look like when termites eat wood?"

When termites feed on wood, the damage isn’t always obvious at first. In fact, termite-eaten wood often looks normal on the surface, which is why infestations can go unnoticed for so long. What’s happening underneath is usually more telling than what you can see right away.

One of the most common signs of termite damage on wood is a hollow or papery sound when you tap it. Subterranean termites feed from the inside out, eventually only leaving a thin outer layer intact.

You may also notice blistering or bubbling on painted or finished wood. This can happen when termites damage the wood beneath the surface, causing paint, drywall, or even wood flooring to warp or buckle slightly.  These spots are often mistaken for water damage or dry rot, which is why homeowners sometimes ask whether they’re dealing with dry rot or termites.

In more advanced cases, wood may crumble easily when pressed with a screwdriver or finger. You might see long grooves or tunnels inside exposed wood, often packed with dirt or debris. For subterranean termites, mud tubes nearby are another red flag, as these insects use them to travel between soil and wood.

Drywood termites differ as they live entirely within the wood, often leaving behind "frass"—tiny, sand-like fecal pellets—near small kick-out holes. Unlike subterranean termites, which follow the grain, drywoods like to eat across the grain, creating smooth, clean galleries that can make structural timber feel brittle or hollow.

Because termite damage is often hidden, visual clues alone don’t tell the whole story. That’s why early identification matters. Our technicians are trained to distinguish wood rot vs. termite damage. If you’re unsure of what you’re dealing with, don’t let the problem linger – get in touch with our termite team today.