Termites

Mud tubes versus frass pellets is the single most useful diagnostic distinction in the vertical, because subterranean and drywood termites need completely different responses.

Subterranean termite (swarmer)

The waist is broad and straight — the body reads as a single uniform tube with no pinch. A flying ant has a sh…

Professional recommended

Drywood termite

Fecal pellets are the defining evidence — hard, elongated, roughly 1 mm, six-sided in cross-section with conca…

Professional recommended

Reviewed by AgainstPest Editorial Team Last reviewed: 2026-08-17