Signs of termites in an Arcadia home
Most homeowners find termites by accident. A pile of tiny pellets on the garage floor, wings on a windowsill, or a screwdriver that sinks into a fascia board. Here is what each sign usually means.
- Small piles of pellets
- Sand-like pellets with six flat sides, often tan, brown or black, are drywood termite droppings. Drywood termites push them out of small kick-out holes, so the pile shows up under the infested wood.
- Discarded wings
- Termites swarm to start new colonies, then drop their wings. Piles of identical wings on sills or in light fixtures mean a swarm happened inside or right next to the house.
- Mud tubes
- Pencil-width tubes of dirt running up a foundation, a slab edge or a garage wall are subterranean termites. They build the tubes to stay moist while they travel from soil to wood.
- Blistered or hollow wood
- Paint that bubbles, wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or trim that crumbles at the edges can all point to feeding inside.
- Swarms in warm weather
- Subterranean termites usually swarm on warm days after spring rain. Drywood termites often swarm on hot afternoons in late summer and fall.
Drywood vs subterranean termites in Arcadia
Both species are common across the San Gabriel Valley, and plenty of Arcadia homes have both. Telling them apart matters because the treatment for one does nothing for the other.
| Western drywood termite | Western subterranean termite | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it lives | Inside dry wood: attic framing, eaves, rafter tails, window frames, furniture | In the soil, traveling into wood through mud tubes |
| Needs soil contact | No | Yes, or a steady moisture source |
| Main sign | Pellet piles under kick-out holes | Mud tubes and damage along wood grain |
| Typical treatment | Local treatment or whole-structure fumigation | Liquid soil treatment or bait stations |
| Where we see it in Arcadia | Older homes with exposed wood eaves, rafter tails and wood siding | Raised foundations, slab cracks, wood touching soil, wet planter beds |
If you are not sure what you have, start with a termite inspection. Guessing wrong is the most expensive mistake in termite work.
Seeing this at your place right now? A local technician can talk it through with you on the phone.
Call (626) 555-0142Why termites are such a problem in Arcadia
A lot of Arcadia was built out from the 1930s through the 1960s. The ranch homes and older two-stories in Lower Rancho, Santa Anita Village, Baldwin Stocker and the streets around downtown have wood eaves, exposed rafter tails, wood garage doors and many layers of paint that have cracked over the years. Drywood termites get in through exactly those gaps.
Up in the Highlands and Highland Oaks, homes sit closer to native soil and brush, and irrigated slopes keep the ground moist. That favors subterranean termites. Raised foundations with wood near the soil line and planters built against the stucco give them an easy way in.
Newer homes are not exempt. Termites will eat into new framing just as happily, and remodels often create fresh wood-to-soil contact or bury the weep screed under landscaping.
Termite treatment options we use
Local or spot treatment for drywood termites
When the infestation is small and the technician can reach all of it, the affected wood is drilled and injected with a termiticide or a foam that spreads through the galleries. Orange oil and other localized products fall into this group. Local treatment does not require leaving the house, but it only treats what the inspector can see and reach.
Whole-structure fumigation for drywood termites
If termites are in several areas, inside walls, or in places that cannot be reached, fumigation is the only way to treat every piece of wood in the house at once. The home is tented and filled with a gas that reaches all of the framing. Read more on our termite fumigation page.
Liquid soil treatment for subterranean termites
A liquid termiticide is applied to the soil around the foundation and, where needed, through holes drilled in the slab or patio. It creates a treated zone that kills termites as they pass through. A good soil treatment usually holds for several years.
Bait stations for subterranean termites
Bait stations are set into the ground around the house. Termites feed on the bait and carry it back to the colony. Baiting takes longer to work than a liquid treatment and needs regular monitoring, but it means fewer products in the soil and works well where drilling is not practical.
Wood repair and prevention
Treatment kills termites; it does not fix damaged wood. Badly damaged rafter tails, fascia or sill plates should be replaced, and the conditions that invited termites in, like wood touching soil or leaking irrigation, should be corrected.
How termite control works with us
Call and describe what you found
Call (626) 555-0142. Tell us where you saw pellets, wings or tubes and how old the house is.
Full termite inspection
A licensed inspector checks the attic, eaves, garage, crawlspace and the exterior. The findings are written up with a diagram of where activity was found.
Treatment options
You see each option and what it covers. If a local treatment will do the job, you will hear that. If fumigation is the right call, you will hear why.
Treatment
Local treatments usually take a few hours. Soil treatments take a day. Fumigation takes about three days start to finish.
Warranty and follow-up
Ask about the warranty terms for your treatment. Most companies offer a limited warranty and an annual re-inspection option.
How to keep termites out after treatment
- Keep at least six inches between soil or mulch and any wood or stucco edge on the house.
- Fix leaking sprinklers, hose bibs and downspouts that soak the foundation.
- Repaint and caulk exposed wood every few years. Fresh paint seals the cracks drywood termites use.
- Screen attic and foundation vents and replace torn screens.
- Do not store firewood or lumber against the house.
- Schedule an annual termite inspection, especially for older homes.
Termite control FAQ
Can I get rid of drywood termites without tenting?
Sometimes. If the infestation is limited and every affected board can be reached, a local treatment can work. If termites are in several places or inside closed walls, tenting is the only way to reach all of them.
How long does termite treatment last?
Fumigation kills every drywood termite in the house at the time of treatment but leaves no lasting protection. Liquid soil treatments for subterranean termites typically protect for several years. Bait systems protect as long as they are monitored.
Are termite swarmers dangerous?
They do not bite or sting. They are a sign that a mature colony is nearby, often in or under the house, so they should not be ignored.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Most policies do not, because insurers treat termite damage as preventable. That is the main reason an annual inspection is worth it.
Do termites in Arcadia stop in winter?
No. Drywood termites feed inside wood all year. Subterranean termites slow down in cold soil but stay active, especially in irrigated yards.