Inspect for Active Termite Activity

Goal

Identify ACTIVE termite activity during inspection - different from finding old damage. Active termites mean immediate treatment is warranted; old damage without current activity is documentation only. The distinction matters because customers (and their lawyers) react very differently to "you have active termites" vs "you had termites previously."

Prerequisites

• Inspection flashlight (high-lumen, focused beam)
• Probing screwdriver
• Magnifying glass
• Camera for documentation
• Vials for collecting samples (if needed)
• 30 - 60 minutes for a standard residential inspection

Steps

1. Look for visible mud tubes. Subterranean termites build mud tubes from soil to wood - pencil-thin tan/brown tubes on foundation walls + interior framing. Active tubes have fresh mud that crumbles when touched + may show termite movement inside if you carefully break a small section.
2. Probe suspect wood. Use a screwdriver to gently probe areas that look damaged:

• Hollow sound when tapped = damage present
• Soft / spongy to the probe = active or recent
• Crumbles = severe damage; immediate concern

1. Look for live termites. Open suspect areas carefully:

• Workers: small, white/cream colored, soft body
• Soldiers: dark heads, defensive
• Reproductives ("swarmers"): dark bodies with two pairs of wings (only in spring during swarm season)

1. Identify dropped swarmer wings. Even when the colony is established, you may not see live workers - but discarded wings (small, oval, transparent) accumulate near windowsills + light fixtures in homes with active infestations.
2. Look for frass (dry-wood termite poop). Dry-wood termite frass looks like fine pellets (1 mm) - concentrated near where the colony enters wood. Different from carpenter ants (which leave wood SHAVINGS, not pellets).
3. Distinguish active vs old damage:

• Active: tubes moist + intact, recent mud, live termites or fresh frass
• Old: dry tubes that crumble to dust, no live insects, accumulated dust in damage areas

1. Test moisture levels with a moisture meter at suspect wood. Active termite colonies require moisture; areas reading > 17 % wood-moisture support termite colonies.

Verification

• Photographs of every potential activity sign
• Notes on tube freshness, wood damage extent, moisture readings
• Active vs old distinction documented for each finding
• Recommendation level matches finding severity

Recommendation framework

• Active subterranean termites confirmed: full liquid barrier treatment OR bait stations + treatment quote
• Active dry-wood termites confirmed: spot treatment (foam) OR fumigation quote (specialty referral for extensive infestation)
• Old damage, no current activity: monitoring + 6-month re-inspection
• Conducive conditions but no active termites: corrective work quote (moisture management, wood-soil contact, structural changes)

References

• HUD WDI Inspection Report (NPMA-33)
• State-specific WDI / WDO inspector licensing standards
• NPMA Best Management Practices for Termite Identification
• Manuall internal: Annual Termite Inspection