Learn the early warning signs of termites in San Antonio homes, including mud tubes, discarded wings and hollow wood, and what to do when you find them.
By Time's Up Pest Control. Published 2026-10-22.
Termites are hard to catch in the act. They feed from the inside out and avoid open air, so many San Antonio homeowners don't know they have a problem until a door sticks or a baseboard crumbles. The good news is that termites do leave clues. Here's what to look for.
Subterranean termites, the most common kind in San Antonio, live in the soil and travel to wood through pencil-width tunnels made of dirt and saliva. Check your foundation, the slab edge, piers, the garage walls and any spot where wood meets the ground. If you break a tube open and it's been rebuilt a few days later, the colony is active.
In spring, mature colonies send out winged termites to start new colonies. A swarm indoors usually means the colony is in or under your home. Even if you miss the swarm, you might find small piles of identical wings on windowsills, near doors or in spider webs.
Flying ants look similar but have a pinched waist, bent antennae and front wings longer than the back ones. Termites have a straight waist, straight antennae and four wings of equal length.
Tap baseboards, door frames and window trim with a screwdriver handle. Wood damaged by termites can sound hollow or papery, and the tip may push in easily. Look for thin, wavy lines on drywall or paint that bubbles as if from water damage.
Termites bring moisture into the wood as they feed, which can make frames swell and warp. A door that sticks for no clear reason is worth a closer look, especially on an exterior wall.
Drywood termites push small, ridged pellets out of their tunnels. They pile up like coarse sand or coffee grounds below the damaged wood. Read subterranean vs. drywood termites to learn how the two types differ.
Homeowners insurance usually doesn't cover termite damage, because it's treated as preventable. Every month an active colony goes untreated adds to a repair bill you'll pay yourself. Annual inspections and a prevention plan cost far less than structural repairs.
Time's Up Pest Control protects San Antonio homes from termites. Our termite services include inspections, liquid treatments, bait station systems and fumigation for severe infestations. Call for a free estimate.
They are thin tunnels of dried dirt, about the width of a pencil, usually running up a foundation, pier or wall from the soil to wood.
Rarely. Worker termites avoid open air and light. Most homeowners only see them during a spring swarm or when damaged wood is opened up.
Usually not. Most policies treat termite damage as a preventable maintenance issue, so check your own policy and plan on prevention.
Time's Up Pest Control is a family-owned San Antonio pest control company serving homes and businesses. Licensed technicians (TPCL #877175), free estimates, satisfaction guarantee and 24/7 emergency service.
Phone: (210) 868-2267
Email: info@timesupbugs.com
Address: 1800 NE Interstate 410 Loop, Suite 216-B, San Antonio, TX 78209
Services: Pest Control, Termite Control, Pest Prevention, Commercial Pest Control