5 Signs You May Have Termites in Your Maryland Home

abdenterprisellc
Apr 14
3 min read

Updated: 1 day ago

Termites are called "silent destroyers" for a reason. They can eat through wood,

flooring, and even wallpaper for months — sometimes years — without you ever

knowing they're there.

And if you live in Maryland, you're in one of the highest-risk areas in the country for

termite activity. The combination of our humid climate, clay-heavy soils, and older

housing stock makes homes across Prince George's County, Anne Arundel County,

Charles County, and the broader DMV region especially vulnerable.

The good news? If you know what to look for, you can catch a termite problem before it

becomes a costly disaster. Here are the five most common warning signs.

1. Mud Tubes on Your Foundation

This is the most telltale sign of subterranean termites — the most common species in

Maryland. These pencil-sized tubes run along your foundation walls, typically from the

ground up toward the wood structure of your home.Termites build mud tubes to travel between their underground colony and their food

source (your home's wood) while staying protected from open air. If you see mud tubes,

even old, dry ones, it means termites have been active on your property.

What to do: Don't disturb or break the tubes. Call a pest control professional

immediately for an inspection. Breaking the tubes doesn't solve the problem — the

colony is underground.

2. Swarmers (Winged Termites) Indoors

In spring, reproductive termites called "swarmers" emerge from mature colonies to mate

and establish new ones. You'll often find them near windows, doors, and light fixtures —

they're attracted to light.

Swarmers look like small, winged insects with straight antennae and equal-length

wings. They're often confused with flying ants, but there are key differences:

Termite swarmers: Straight antennae, equal-length wings, thick waist
Flying ants: Bent antennae, unequal-length wings, pinched waist

If you find swarmers inside your home, that's a strong indicator of an active colony in or

near your structure.

What to do: Collect a few specimens in a plastic bag for identification and call a

professional.

3. Hollow-Sounding or Damaged Wood

Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin shell on the surface. If you tap on

a wall, baseboard, door frame, or window sill and it sounds hollow or papery, termites

may have been feeding inside.

You might also notice:

Wood that crumbles easily when probed
Blistering or dark spots on wood surfaces
Floorboards that feel spongy or saggy underfoot

What to do: Don't ignore wood damage, even if it seems minor. A professional can

probe the area and determine if termites are the cause.

4. Discarded Wings Near Windows and Doors

After swarmers mate, they shed their wings. You may find small piles of translucent,

equal-sized wings on window sills, near doors, in spider webs, or along baseboards.

Finding discarded wings means swarmers were recently active in or near your home —

and a new colony may be establishing itself.

What to do: This is an urgent warning sign. Schedule a termite inspection as soon as

possible.

5. Frass (Termite Droppings) Drywood termites — less common in Maryland than subterranean species, but still

present — push their droppings (called "frass") out of small holes near their tunnels.

Frass looks like tiny, dark, pellet-shaped grains, often found in small piles near

baseboards, door frames, or window sills.

If you notice what looks like sawdust or coffee grounds near wood structures in your

home, it could be frass.

What to do: Don't sweep it up and forget about it. Take a photo and contact a pest

control professional for identification.

What to Do If You Suspect Termites

The most important thing: don't panic, but don't wait.

Termite damage is almost never an emergency in the sense that your house will

collapse tomorrow. But every week you delay treatment, the colony grows and the

damage increases. Termite repairs in Maryland can run anywhere from a few hundred

dollars (if caught early) to tens of thousands (if left unchecked for years).

Here's your action plan:

Don't disturb the area — breaking mud tubes or spraying store-bought insecticide can scatter the colony and make professional treatment harder.
Document what you found — take photos of mud tubes, swarmers, damage, or frass.
Call a licensed pest control company — get a professional inspection and treatment plan.
Ask about warranties — reputable companies offer treatment warranties that cover re-treatment if termites return.