Termites cause trouble for any facility. Look for these warning signs   March 6, 2025

From hairy rodents to creepy crawlies, there’s a wide variety of different pests that can wreak havoc on a facility and give facility managers problems to deal with. One pest, though, dwells beneath the earth, eats away at and causes structural damage to a facility: the eastern subterranean termite.

Before dealing with termites and the threats they pose, facility managers must first understand the termite. Primarily, they make their home underground, which tends to be their point of origin before infiltrating and then infesting a facility.

How termites get in, signs and potential damage

There are numerous signs that can indicate termites are infesting a building, according to Jim Fredericks, senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA).

Since most termites in the United States are going to be subterranean variety, they’ll build mud shelter tubes using soil to gain access to a building, says Fredericks. These pencil-like tubes can be seen snaking their way up over foundation walls or over non-cellulose items. They can be inside of walls or coming up through cracks in slabs.

Another point of entry is utilities. If utilities are coming directly up through a slab, that’s a penetration point, says Fredericks. Termites are unable to chew through concrete, so they’ll try to find their way in through pipes, electrical wiring or ventilation.

“That’s a good place to keep an eye on – look for those mud shelter tubes that are going to be coming up or that have emerged,” says Fredericks.

One other place to check mud shelter tubes is outside of the facility, specifically around the foundation walls. However, it can be hard to spot them around bushes and shrubbery. Maintaining a clear space around the outside of the facility simplifies identifying mud shelter tubes, says Fredericks

Another sign of termites is the presence of wings. When swarming termites emerge and find a mate, they lose their wings. The termites then head back down into a crack or crevice to try to build a new colony, leaving their wings behind. Large numbers of wings near windows or other light sources will indicate termites are present.

“Probably one of the most spectacular sights you’re going to see in a bad way would be termite swarms,” says Fredericks. “This is when hundreds or even thousands of reproductive winged termites will emerge on mass from the colony in search of mates and places to build a new colony. If you see that, you typically know you have a problem.”

Facility managers should pay attention to areas that have walls over known expansion cracks with large slabs. This is a prime space for termites to come up and search for food such as wood paneling, wood construction elements, drywall and anything that contains cellulose or paper. After they chew through this material, there’s going to be some noticeable structural damage left behind.

Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market. 

By Jeff Wardon, Jr., Assistant Editor

The post "Signs Your Facility Has Termites" appeared first on FN Prime Maintenance & Operations