Sawdust And Termites

Need to get rid of termites? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Do Sawdust and Termites Have To Do With One Another?

There are two main types of termites found in homes in the United States: subterranean and drywood termites. Drywood termites do not need much moisture to survive and thus live in drier climates and drier habitats. Drywood termites live in smaller sized colonies and are far less invasive than subterranean termites. Subterranean termites live in very large colonies that hold hundreds of thousands of members and can cause extensive damage in a short amount of time. Both kinds of termites leave behind droppings; however, if you are seeing something that looks like piles of sawdust in your home, you might have discovered the presence of drywood termite frass..

Drywood Frass

Frass is the term used to refer to termite droppings. When drywood termites establish a colony, two-winged reproductive termites will find each other during swarming season, discard their wings, find the right wood for a new colony, dig a hole to begin their new lives and never leave the colony again. These termites will even seal the hole they used as an entrance behind them ensuring that their colony is safe from outside invaders. Occasionally, new winged reproductives need to leave the nest to start new colonies, but besides that, drywood termites don’t need anything else from the outside world. The only other thing they might make holes outside for is disposing of their excrement. As termites consume wood and cellulose, they create exit holes that are used to kick frass out of their nest. 

What Does Frass Look Like?

Drywood frass is actually made up of tiny pellets. These tiny, oval-shaped pellets have six concave sides and rounded ends. The color of the frass depends on the color of the wood consumed by the colony. These pellets are about 1 millimeter in length and their removal from the colony often forms a kind of mound beneath these exit holes. Sometimes the mounds can look like small piles of salt and pepper, but more often, because these piles of droppings look like little wood shavings and are the color of the wood, termite frass is confused for piles of sawdust.

Call A Pest Control Specialist

Learning the signs of a termite infestation can save you a lot of time, effort and expense by catching the infestation before it gets too big, and the damage has become extensive. If you have found termite frass in or around your home, it’s time to call a termite technician today. Pest Control Experts should always be your first call whenever the need for a pest care specialist arises. We can recommend the right service provider in your area for any pest problem you might have. Call Pest Control Experts now.