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Somebody finds a little pile of something under a window sill, sweeps it up, and it’s back two days later. That’s the question I get more than almost any other. Here’s what termite droppings really look like, why the color fools people, and the one sign that actually matters.
If I just told you they’re small six-sided pellets you’d need a microscope to really see, that wouldn’t help you at all. So here’s the more useful version.
Usually, you’ll notice a small pile of pellets that keeps getting bigger over time. It can look like coffee grounds, sawdust, sometimes even sand. Brush it away, and it comes back. Sometimes you can actually watch it happen in real time, a single pellet kicks out from wherever the termites are feeding, then another, then another. They’re doing that because they need more room. Once they’ve eaten the wood and pulled out whatever moisture they can, the leftover gets pushed out to make space. Some folks call these kickout holes, since that’s exactly what’s happening. Termite droppings, termite pellets, termite poop, all the same thing.
Why color doesn’t tell you much
Here’s something that surprised me over the years. I originally assumed the pellets would match the color of the wood being eaten. Makes sense on paper. But I’ve seen black pellets in a pine or fir frame home, which is a blonde wood, not dark at all. I’ve even seen purple pellets. The color can run salt-and-pepper, blonde, dark, black, purple, red, and it doesn’t reliably tell you whether the pellets are new or old, or even always which wood they came from. Sometimes it’s obvious. Often it’s not.
What actually matters is simpler: if you clean it up and it comes back, that’s your sign. Give us a call, or if you’ve got any other question at all, we’re happy to help.
Our number is 727-462-0400, or you can text us at 727-458-7900. And always remember, as long as GOD keeps making them, we’ll keep killing them. You have a great day.
Want to see pictures of what to look for? Here’s our full page on termite droppings and signs.