What do termite mud tubes look like?

Mud tubes are narrow, brown tunnels made of soil and termite saliva, usually about the width of a pencil. Subterranean termites build them to travel between the ground and your woodwork while staying moist and hidden. Check the base of exterior walls, garden walls, door frames and the points where plumbing enters the building.

Mississippi State University Extension advises having the building professionally inspected if you find shelter tubes, even when no live termites are visible (source). Keep in mind that drywood termites do not build mud tubes, so not seeing them does not mean you are in the clear.

Why are there tiny wings on my windowsill?

After a swarm, winged termites shed their wings and start new colonies. The wings are translucent, all about the same size, and often collect in small piles on windowsills, near door thresholds, under light fittings or in spider webs. Piles of shed wings are one of the few outward signs you will see before wood damage appears.

What does it mean if flying insects appear indoors?

Flying termites, called swarmers, are reproductive adults leaving a mature colony to start a new one. They are drawn to light, so you may notice them around lamps or windows at dusk. Finding swarmers inside suggests a colony is active somewhere nearby, possibly inside the building itself. Check them against flying ants using the table further down.

How can you tell if wood is hollow?

Tap door frames, skirting boards, window sills and wardrobe panels with the handle of a screwdriver. Termites eat wood from the inside and leave a thin outer layer, so affected timber sounds dull, papery or hollow compared with solid wood nearby.

What is termite frass?

Frass is the droppings of drywood termites: tiny, hard pellets that look like sand or coffee grounds. Drywood termites push it out through small holes, so it collects in little mounds beneath window frames, furniture and skirting. The pellets match the colour of the wood they ate, ranging from light tan to dark brown. The University of Florida's IFAS Extension describes these signs in its guide to drywood and dampwood termites.

Why is the paint bubbling on my wall or door frame?

Blistering or peeling paint can mean termites are tunnelling just beneath the surface, where they add moisture and weaken the finish. It looks a lot like water damage, which is why it gets misread. If the bubbling sits near wood and feels hollow or crumbles when pressed, treat it as a possible termite sign.

Why are my doors and windows suddenly sticking?

Frames can warp when termites tunnel through them and release moisture, so doors and windows that used to close easily start to stick. Humidity alone can do this too, so a stiff door only counts as a warning sign when it appears together with another sign on this list.

What does termite-damaged wood look like?

Damaged timber may feel soft, crumble when you press a screwdriver into it, or show thin tunnels running along the grain with a layered look. Floors can feel slightly spongy or sag. Inspect kitchen cabinets, wardrobes and door frames, especially along external walls and near any past leaks.

What are the small holes in my wood or walls?

Pinhead-sized holes, sometimes plugged with mud or surrounded by fine pellets, can be exit points for drywood termites. Similar holes are also made by wood-boring beetles, which need a different treatment, so it is worth confirming what you have. Our guide to wood borer control in Sharjah and Ajman explains how the two differ.

Can you hear termites inside walls?

In a quiet room at night, a faint clicking or rustling sound inside a wall can come from termites moving and feeding. This sign is easy to miss and not conclusive on its own, but combined with any of the signs above it is a good reason to book an inspection.