Last Updated December 28th, 2022: Termites can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage to your home and can put your family in danger by making your home not structurally sound. Find out how to treat termites yourself!
Although it’s gross that termites poop and leave droppings, it’s also a blessing in disguise because if you know what you’re looking for it allows you to identify that you have a termite infestation and act accordingly.
Termite droppings can also be called termite frass or termite pellets, and are often found outside of their mud tubes because termites don’t like to poop where they live.
Here are examples of where you’ll most often find termite droppings:
- On the floor along walls or moldings. This usually means there is termite activity in the ceiling or above you on the wall.
- In the flooring underneath carpet or furniture, look for disturbances in your carpet or occasionally lift up your carpet to inspect.
- Along windowsills and frames as well as door frames.
What Do Termite Droppings Look Like?
Although termite droppings can differ in appearance depending on the species of termite, they generally will look like tiny (size of a pinhead) oval droppings with rounded ends. Termite poop will often form small mounds as it builds up which can reach an inch or two high.
Are Termite Droppings Dangerous or Harmful?
Termite frass or droppings in themselves are not toxic or overly dangerous to humans or pets.
Frass is very similar to sawdust and can cause irritation if overly handled or it gets in your eyes. Along with this, if you suffer from allergies or asthma you might have a more severe response to termite poop.
If you notice termite droppings you should call a pest control company that specializes in termites because they’ll be able to confirm that it is termite pellets and they’ll clean it up for you and get you set up on a termite treatment plan. Although termite droppings aren’t harmful directly to most people, they are a dangerous sign of bigger issues!
Carpenter Ant Droppings Vs Termite Droppings
Both carpenter ants and termites have very similar looking droppings, which can make it difficult to identify which type of pest infestation you might have in your home.
The easiest way to tell the difference between carpenter ant droppings and termite droppings is by identifying where the droppings are located. Carpenter ants tend to leave their poop around the entrance to their nest, while termites open up little holes in the wood structures they’re living in and will scatter their pellets and let it drop to the floor.
Along with this, carpenter ant frass will be a little less refined and you might even notice pieces of sawdust inside it, while termite droppings are more refined and look similar to sand.
How To Know If Termite Droppings Are New or Old?
One of the biggest signs of termites is obviously their droppings. Termite droppings can be very difficult to determine if they’re new or have been sitting for weeks. There isn’t much of a change in appearance or texture as the droppings age, so the only way to really tell is to clean up the mound of droppings and see if they return.
That being said, if you notice termite droppings, then you should play it safe and treat it as if you have an active termite infestation.
What To Do If You Find Termite Droppings?
Generally, termite droppings are dry rather than wet so you should be able to vacuum or sweep them up. Then I recommend using an anti-bacterial cleaner on that area to get rid of any bacteria that might have been in the termite droppings. From there I would recommend calling a professional exterminator because you definitely have a termite infestation.
Termite Droppings On Your Bed:
There have been a few reports of people noticing termite droppings on their beds and on their bedsheets. As gross as this sounds, it is helpful because it vastly narrows down where the colony is located. Termite droppings on your bed mean that termite droppings from the ceiling are falling straight down onto your bed.
If you notice termite droppings on your bed, then look in the ceiling above your bed and look for other signs of termites such as bubbling drywall and paint. This is an early stage termite damage drywall sign!
Termite Droppings From Ceiling
If you have a severe termite infestation in your ceiling, it’s common for termite droppings from the ceiling to be a regular occurrence. When termites are moving through their nest as well as expanding they’ll often push their poop out of their nests which can drop through the ceiling into your home.
Termite Droppings Pictures
Final Thoughts On Termite Droppings:
Although termite droppings are gross, at least they give you an easier-to-find sign that you might have a termite infestation and you can take care of it.
If you do notice termite frass, then you need to call in a professional to ensure that any further damage isn’t caused to your home. Take a look at our guide on what to expect after your termite treatment.
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