Tips to spot an active termite infestation during an inspection

Dr. Janis Reed, BCE, Technical Services Manager, Product Development Team, Control Solutions Inc.

The identification of an active termite infestation is key to making a management plan, and the first step in determining whether a plan is even necessary. So, how do most pest management professionals (PMPs) discover an active termite infestation? The answer varies from situation to situation — locating swarmers, finding damage, discovering shelter tubes. Sometimes, it’s all three factors.

To confidently perform an inspection and ensure you’ve found an active infestation (or not), consider the following tasks:

• Access all areas of the structure.
• Communicate with your clients the importance of an annual termite inspection of all areas.
• Inspect the attic and crawlspace, if possible.
• Check spider webs for shed wings and other evidence of termite swarmers.
• Look for evidence of drywood fecal pellets and damage.
• Check walls for bubbling, pinholes and other damage.

Conduct your annual termite inspection and kick it up a notch. Take your time, and make it count.