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Termites are very small and similar in size to ants, which often leads to confusion. Owing to their secretive nature, they can be hard to detect, especially with an untrained eye. You are far more likely to spot the signs of termite damage before you spot termites themselves.
There are also several different types of termites, which can make figuring out which termite control method to use challenging. Particularly for termites, correct identification ensures the use of the most effective termite control methods and allows you to choose the most appropriate prevention steps to try and avoid problems in the future.
Need help identifying termites? Call Ehrlich today at 800-837-5520 for advice and to schedule a FREE termite inspection of your home or business.
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Common characteristics of termites
While their appearance can vary slightly between species and castes, termites share several common anatomical traits. They have a soft, elongated body divided into three parts – the head, thorax, and abdomen – six legs, straight antennae, and powerful mandibles for chewing wood. While workers and soldiers are wingless, reproductive termites (swarmers) have two pairs of wings of equal size, used during mating flights.
What Color Are Termites?
The color of a termite often depends on its caste within the colony. A termite caste is a division within a termite colony, where members are specialized in specific roles such as workers, soldiers, or reproductives (queens and kings), each responsible for tasks like gathering food, defending the colony, or reproduction. Each caste has a distinct appearance, which can help homeowners identify the termite's role and type.
Soldiers of most structure-infesting termite species bodies are the same or very similar to the workers (off-white or opaque) Their heads are enlarged and are an orangish color.
The reproductive swarmers are light brown to amber to dark brown to black, depending on the species. These reproductive termites leave the colony to establish new ones. They are typically darker in color with wings, and are often mistaken for flying ants.
Identifying termites by species
All types of termites can cause damage to your home, but knowing a bit more about the different species of termites can help identify them more easily. Depending on where you are in the United States can also determine the types of termites you are seeing. Here are some of the most common termite species found in the United States:
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Subterranean termites
Appearance
- Color - Creamy white (workers and soldiers) to dark brown or black (swarmers)
- Size - ⅛ inch
- Shape - Long and narrow
- Head - Rectangular
Habitat
- Lives in colonies consisting of many individual termites
- Found throughout North America
- Most common type of termite encountered in homes
Habits
- Most destructive termite in the U.S.
- Creates mud tubes to avoid the elements and reach food sources
- Most active in the spring when groups of reproductives start growing their own colonies
- Eastern subterranean colonies can contain up to 1 million termites.
More information on subterranean termites.
Drywood termites
Appearance
- Color - Creamy white (workers and soldiers) to brown or black (swarmers)
- Size - ⅜ to 1 inch
- Shape - Long and narrow
Habitat
- Commonly found in coastal states in the south and southwest of the U.S.
- Favors warm temperatures, so they are most active when temperatures rise
- Does not need moisture or soil contact to survive
Habits
- Colonies can contain up to 4,000 termites
- No worker caste, work is done by immature termites
- Chews through wooden support beams, floors, and walls
- Diet mainly consists of house wood, utility poles, furniture, and dying trees
More information on drywood termite identification.
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Dampwood termites
Appearance
- Color - Creamy white to brown
- Size - ½ to ⅝ inch
- Shape - Long and narrow
Habitat
- Commonly found in the Pacific Coast states and in southern Florida
- Lives in damp and rotting wood and mulch, often near open water
- Does not require soil contact
Habits
- Enters homes through wood that meets damp soil
- Create mud tubes to stay moist
- No worker caste
- Produces fecal pellets that indicate infestation
- Swarms to set up new nests from January to October
More information on dampwood termite identification.
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Formosan termites
Appearance
- Color - Creamy white (workers) to light brown (swarmers)
- Size - ½ inch
- Shape - Long and narrow
- Head - Rounded on the sides and tapered in front
Habitat
- Commonly found in Hawaii, South Florida, and the Southernmost counties of the Gulf Coast states
- Live in large underground colonies, but may establish secondary nests above ground
Habits
- Subset of subterranean termite
- Most aggressive termite species
- First sign of infestation is presence of swarmers
- Can eat approximately 31 grams per day
- Infest living trees, utility polls, boats, and other structures
- Colonies can contain up to 10-12 million termites.
More information on Formosan termite identification.
Termite castes
Termite larvae are very small and white in color. The larvae, or “immatures,” are nurtured by other termites until they've grown into a role in the colony. Their presence indicates that there is an active colony growing.
Termite eggs
What do termite eggs look like?
Termite eggs are tiny but are visible to the naked eye – appearing as a pile of white powder. They are mostly kept in underground parts of the colony and are not likely to be seen. The eggs are commonly white or light brown in color and translucent.
Termite larvae eventually grow into one of three roles in a colony: reproductives, soldiers, or workers. Through a molting process, a few of the larvae will develop into reproductives, which includes termite queens, soldiers or workers depending on the colony’s needs. The queen sends a pheromone throughout the colony to control which roles are needed.
Alates
Often confused for moths or flying ants, flying termites (alates) can commonly be found swarming around window sills or exterior lighting because they are attracted to light. The presence of these insects indoors signifies that a building could be infested. Eventually, a few of these insects will turn into the queens and kings of new colonies, but most will die within a few hours if they do not find a favorable situation to build a new nest.
Role in colony:
Alates are the winged reproductives that swarm out from the nest, mate, and establish new colonies.
Workers
The workers make up the largest number within a colony. They do most of the work (other than defend and reproduce), consequently causing the destruction that affects so many homes.
Role in colony:
Workers are responsible for feeding and grooming other members of the colony. They also excavate the nest and make tunnels.
Soldiers
Soldiers are the next biggest caste within a colony. They have enlarged heads and jaws, and are equipped with sticky fluids or chemical spray for defense.
Role in colony:
Soldiers defend the colony against attacks by predatory enemies such as ants.
Queen
Starting out life as an alate, she leaves her parents' colony, sheds her wings, and seeks out an environment to nest.
The termite queen looks like a small termite body with a large egg producing abdomen. Her skin elongates and becomes translucent, revealing the churning liquid and eggs beneath the skin.
The distended abdomen makes it impossible for the termite queen to move so the entire termite nest is built around her. The queen provides nutrients for her offspring, and the workers take care of the eggs.
Role in colony:
The function of the queen is to reproduce, and she can lay up to 30,000 eggs per day. If not exterminated, a queen can live up to 15 years, producing around 165 million eggs in her lifetime.
Bugs that look like termites
Termites are often confused with other insects due to their similar appearance and wood-damaging habits. Knowing the difference between termites and other pests is crucial for effective termite pest control.
Termites vs flying ants
Termite swarmers are often confused with flying ants. The difference between these two pests will greatly impact the type of service needed to control them in your property. Often a suspected problem with termites turns out to be a problem with carpenter ants, fire ants, or other ants, because they look so similar.
Here’s how to establish the general differences in appearance and behavior between ants and termites:
- Waist - Termites have a straight waist, while ants have a pinched waist.
- Antennae - Termites have straight antennae, while ants have bent antennae.
- Wing Length - Termites' wings are the same length, while ants have wings of different lengths.
- Discarded wings - Flying ants do not shed their wings, but termite swarmers do.
Termites vs. carpenter bees
While they do not look alike, carpenter bees are often mistaken for termites based on the damage they can cause to wood. They are larger and can often be seen around wooden structures, creating round holes for nesting. Unlike termites, carpenter bees do not consume wood; they bore into it to lay eggs, leaving sawdust-like residue, which can be confused for termite activity. The holes they bore are much larger than termite galleries and can be seen on the surfaces of wood.
Termites vs. carpenter ants
Carpenter ants tunnel into wood to create nests but do not eat the wood like termites. Carpenter ant galleries are smooth and clean, while termite-damaged wood is rough and filled with mud or frass. Both insects can cause significant structural damage over time.
Powder post beetles vs. termites
Powder post beetles create tiny exit holes in wood and leave behind fine, powdery dust. Their larvae consume wood similarly to termites, but termite damage is more extensive, and termites often leave mud tubes or droppings known as frass.
Signs of a termite infestation
Common signs of a termite infestation include mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, discarded wings, and termite frass. Damaged wood that buckles or has blistered paint can also indicate a termite infestation. In some cases, it may be possible to identify termites by the damage they cause.
Subterranean termites begin their feeding process from the ground up and typically enter a building through the sub-structure. It is here you should look for evidence of damaged wood and mud tubes. Wood damaged by subterranean termites develops “galleries” (hollow tunnels), which run along the grain of the wood.
Drywood termites typically enter structures near the roof line or other exposed wood to begin building a colony. Inspect your attic for evidence of damaged wood. Look for tiny holes in the wood with evidence of frass collecting nearby. Probing the wood can also expose galleries as well.
For more certain identification, your Ehrlich Technician can inspect your home and determine which type of termites you might be dealing with. Call us today at 800-837-5520 or contact us online to arrange a FREE termite inspection for your home or business.
Need help with termite pest control?
If you're seeing signs of termite activity, don’t wait! Professional pest control services like Ehrlich know how to get rid of termites and protect your home. Contact us today for a free termite inspection.