Everything North Texas Homeowners Need to Know About Termites

Termites are a concern for North Texas homeowners because they can feed on the wood and other cellulose materials in a home while remaining hidden for months or even years. You may never see the termites themselves. Instead, the first sign of a problem may be mud tubes along the foundation, discarded wings near a window or door, damaged wood, or a sudden swarm of winged termites.

In North Texas, termite activity is especially noticeable during the warmer months and around periods of increased moisture. Our technicians know that finding a few suspicious signs does not always tell you how extensive the activity is. A professional termite inspection can help determine whether termites are present, where they may be entering, and what type of treatment makes sense for the property.

What Termites Should North Texas Homeowners Worry About?

Subterranean termites are an important termite concern for North Texas homeowners. These termites live in colonies underground and travel between the soil and their food source.

Because termites need protection as they move, subterranean termites often build narrow mud tubes along foundations and other surfaces. These tubes allow them to travel from the soil into a structure without being exposed to open air.

That also means termites can be active inside or around a home without homeowners seeing insects crawling around.

Other types of termites exist, including drywood and dampwood termites, but the type of termite and conditions around the property matter when determining the appropriate response. If you find signs of termite activity, identification should be part of the inspection rather than assuming every termite problem behaves the same way.

When Are Termites Most Active in North Texas?

Termites can remain active throughout the year, but homeowners are more likely to notice them when reproductive termites, known as swarmers, leave an established colony.

In North Texas, termite swarms are commonly associated with warmer spring conditions and moisture. A warm day following rain can sometimes trigger noticeable swarming activity.

Seeing flying insects around your home does not automatically mean they are termites—flying ants are commonly mistaken for termite swarmers. However, finding termite swarmers or piles of discarded wings around windows, doors, or other areas of the home deserves a closer look.

If you're unsure what you're seeing, read Do Flying Termites Mean You Have a Problem? for more information about termite swarmers and what they may indicate.

What Are the Signs of Termites in a Home?

Termites are easy to overlook because much of their activity occurs underground or inside wood.

Some of the warning signs homeowners should watch for include:

• Mud tubes along the foundation or other surfaces
• Discarded wings near windows, doors, or entry points
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Wood that appears damaged, blistered, or weakened
• Peeling or bubbling paint that resembles moisture damage
• Floors that begin to buckle or squeak
• Doors or windows that suddenly become difficult to open or close
• Visible termite swarmers around the home

One sign by itself does not necessarily tell you how serious a termite problem is. That's why an inspection is useful when something looks suspicious.

Where Should You Look for Termite Activity?

Start with areas where termites can move between the soil and the structure or where moisture may create favorable conditions.

Pay particular attention to:

• The home's foundation
• Areas where wood touches soil
• Plumbing penetrations and moisture-prone areas
• Mulch or landscaping directly against the house
• Decks, porches, fences, and other wooden structures
• Garages and storage areas
• Areas near leaking faucets, downspouts, or drainage problems

Mud tubes along the foundation are one of the more recognizable signs of subterranean termite activity.

However, the absence of visible mud tubes does not guarantee that a home is termite-free. Termites can use hidden cracks, gaps, and other protected routes to reach wood.

What Attracts Termites to a Home?

Termites are looking for cellulose-based food sources, but conditions around a property can make access easier.

Moisture is one factor worth paying attention to. Leaking plumbing, poor drainage, clogged gutters, and water collecting near the foundation can create conditions that are more favorable to termite activity.

Wood-to-soil contact can also give subterranean termites easier access to a structure.

Other conditions to watch include:

• Firewood stacked against the house
• Lumber stored directly on the ground
• Wooden fence posts or landscaping timbers near the structure
• Excess mulch against the foundation
• Dead wood or tree debris near the home
• Persistent moisture around the foundation

If you want to dig deeper into these conditions, see What Attracts Termites to Your Home?.

Can You Prevent Termites?

No prevention method can guarantee that termites will never reach a home, but homeowners can reduce conditions that make termite activity easier to establish or harder to notice.

A few practical steps include:

• Keep wood from making direct contact with the soil whenever possible.
• Correct plumbing leaks and other moisture problems.
• Keep gutters clear and direct water away from the foundation.
• Avoid piling mulch directly against the home's foundation.
• Store firewood and unused lumber away from the house and off the ground.
• Remove unnecessary wood and cellulose debris around the property.
• Pay attention to changes around the foundation, especially mud tubes or discarded wings.

Regularly looking around the exterior of your home can also help you notice changes sooner.

Are Termites Dangerous?

Termites generally aren't a danger to people in the way that stinging or biting pests can be. The bigger concern is what an established termite colony can do to a structure over time.

Termites feed on cellulose, which is found in wood and many of the materials used to build homes. Because they can remain concealed while feeding, damage may progress before a homeowner realizes there is a problem.

If your main concern is the risk termites pose to your home, read Are Termites Dangerous? for a more detailed explanation.

Can Termites Eat Through Concrete?

Termites do not eat concrete. Concrete does not provide the cellulose they need for food.

However, termites can use small cracks, gaps, expansion joints, plumbing penetrations, and other openings to travel through or around a foundation in search of wood.

That's an important distinction. Seeing termites appear to come from a concrete area does not mean they're eating the concrete—it may mean they have found a protected route through the structure.

Do Termites Bite People?

Termites are not generally considered a biting pest for homeowners. Their colonies are built around finding and consuming cellulose rather than seeking people or pets.

The concern with termites is therefore less about direct contact with the insects and much more about detecting activity before significant structural damage develops.

What Should You Do If You Think You Have Termites?

If you find mud tubes, discarded wings, suspicious wood damage, or insects you believe may be termite swarmers, avoid disturbing the area more than necessary.

Taking a photo can be helpful, particularly when trying to distinguish termite swarmers from flying ants.

The next step is a termite inspection.

An inspection can help answer the questions that are difficult to determine just by looking at a single sign:

• Are these actually termites?
• Is there active termite activity?
• Where are they getting into the structure?
• Are there conditions around the property contributing to the problem?
• What treatment approach is appropriate?

Finding termite activity does not mean you need to panic. It does mean the situation is worth properly identifying before deciding what to do next.

How Is Termite Activity Treated?

Professional termite treatment depends on the type of termite, the property, and the nature of the activity.

At Myles Pest Services, we use the Sentricon® System with Always Active™ technology for termite protection. The system uses strategically placed bait stations that termites can feed on and share with other members of the colony.

Homeowners researching termite treatment may also encounter companies that use liquid soil treatments. These approaches work differently, and understanding those differences can help you make a more informed decision.

For a detailed comparison, read Sentricon vs. Liquid Termite Treatment: Which Is Right for Your Home?.

You can also learn more about our termite control services and how we approach termite inspections and protection for North Texas homes.

Related Articles

• Do Flying Termites Mean You Have a Problem?
• Are Termites Dangerous?
• What Attracts Termites to Your Home?
• Subterranean Termites in Texas
• Sentricon vs. Liquid Termite Treatment: Which Is Right for Your Home?

Frequently Asked Questions About Termites in North Texas

When do termites swarm in North Texas?

Termite swarms are most noticeable when conditions become warm and favorable for reproductive termites to leave an established colony. In North Texas, homeowners often associate swarm activity with warmer spring weather and moisture. A swarm near or inside your home is worth investigating because it may indicate an established colony nearby.

Does seeing flying termites mean I have termites?

Not necessarily, but it should not be ignored. A swarm outdoors may originate from a colony somewhere nearby, while swarmers emerging inside a home can be more concerning. Flying ants can also look surprisingly similar to termite swarmers, so proper identification matters.

What do termite mud tubes look like?

Subterranean termite mud tubes typically look like narrow lines or tunnels made from soil and other material. They may appear along a foundation, wall, pier, or another surface connecting the soil to the structure. Finding a suspected mud tube is a good reason to have the area inspected.

Can termites be active without visible damage?

Yes. Termite activity can remain concealed underground or inside wood, so visible damage isn't always the first sign. Homeowners may instead notice swarmers, discarded wings, mud tubes, or subtle changes in wood and other parts of the home.

Should I treat termites myself?

Termites can be difficult to locate because much of the colony and its activity may be hidden. A product applied only where termites are visible may not address the colony responsible for the activity. An inspection can identify what you're dealing with and help determine an appropriate treatment approach.

Concerned About Termites in Your North Texas Home?

If you've found mud tubes, discarded wings, suspicious wood damage, or insects that may be termite swarmers, Myles Pest Services can help determine what's happening.

We've served North Texas homeowners since 1989, and our team understands the termite conditions and concerns common to homes throughout the area.

Schedule a termite inspection or call Myles Pest Services at 817-402-2852 to learn more about protecting your home from termites.