The termite most often reported in the Chicago area is the eastern subterranean termite. Swarmers appear in spring, often after a warm day with rain, and winged ants are frequently mistaken for them. This guide covers the signs, how to tell the two apart and what an inspection should include.
Key takeaways
- The species reported in the Chicago area is the eastern subterranean termite, which lives in soil and reaches wood through contact.
- Spring swarms are generally reported after warm days with rain, and winged ants are the most common mistake.
- Ants usually have elbowed antennae and a narrow waist; termites usually have straight antennae and a broad waist.
- A useful inspection covers the foundation, sill plates, crawl space or basement, joists and any wood touching soil.
- Treatment method, reasons and monitoring should be written into the quote before any work starts.
Which termite is this, and where does it live?
The species reported in the Chicago area is the eastern subterranean termite. It nests in soil and reaches the wooden parts of a building through contact, often through a crack, a gap or a wood-to-soil link.
Subterranean termites live in the ground. A colony can be large, and its members move between the soil and the structure through mud tubes that they build along foundations, piers and other surfaces. A termite that is working in a house is usually connected to a colony in the soil, which is one reason treatment often focuses on the ground around the building as well as on the wood.
The eastern subterranean termite is the species reported in the Chicago area. A homeowner should not assume the species without an inspection, but the regional pattern points to this termite as the one to expect.
Other termite species exist in other parts of the country, and some pest companies name them in their marketing. This page does not name any other species for the Tinley Park area, because no local source confirms one. If a technician names a different species, ask how it was identified and what it means for the treatment.
What do spring swarms look like, and when do they happen?
Swarmers are the winged reproductives that leave an established colony to start new ones. They are generally reported in spring, often on a warm day after rain, and finding shed wings near a window or a sill is a common reason people call.
Termite swarms are generally reported in spring. The swarm usually happens on a warm day, often after rain, when the conditions suit the insects leaving the colony. The window is not published here as a set of months, so a homeowner should treat any swarm as a reason to look at the building rather than as a date to expect every year.
Swarmers can be seen around windows, light fixtures, door frames and sill plates. Their wings drop off soon after they land, which is why a small pile of wings on a windowsill is a common sign. Finding the wings is useful information, but they are not proof on their own, because winged ants can leave wings in the same way.
Winged ants are the most common mistake. An ant swarm is a brief event, and the insects have elbowed antennae and a narrow waist. Termite swarmers usually have straight antennae and a broad waist, and their two pairs of wings are about the same length. A technician can usually confirm which insect it is from a photograph or a sample, and that check is worth doing before any treatment decision.
Which signs in a house point to termites?
Termite signs include mud tubes along a foundation or pier, wood that sounds hollow when tapped, small piles of frass that look like sawdust or pellets, and blistered paint or sagging trim. Any one sign is worth checking, and several together justify an inspection.
Mud tubes are the clearest sign of subterranean termites. They are narrow tunnels of soil and debris that run up a foundation wall, a pier or a pipe. Finding them on a basement wall, in a crawl space or on the concrete around the house is a strong reason to call for an inspection, because the tubes show that the insects are using a route to the structure.
Wood damage is harder to see. A piece of framing may look sound on the outside while the inside has been eaten away. Tapping a board with a screwdriver handle can reveal a hollow sound. Wood that crumbles when probed, or that has sagging or bowed floors near a sill, should be examined more closely. Damage is often found behind finishes, which is why an inspection can look further than a homeowner can.
Other signs can have innocent causes. Blistered paint can come from moisture, and frass can come from other insects. Swarm wings can come from ants. That is why a homeowner should note what they see, when they saw it and where, and then let a trained inspector sort the causes. The homeowner's job is to report, not to diagnose.
| Sign | Where to look | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Mud tubes | Foundation walls, piers, basement and crawl space | Termites are using a route from the soil to the structure |
| Hollow-sounding wood | Sills, joists, posts and any wood near soil | Damage may be developing inside the timber |
| Frass or pellets | Below wood, window sills and near baseboards | Wood-boring activity, which needs identifying |
| Shed wings | Windowsills, light fixtures and door frames | A swarm has happened nearby, or ants may be the cause |
| Blistered or sagging trim | Near ground level and around entry doors | Moisture or damage that needs an inspection |
What should an inspection cover?
A useful inspection covers the foundation, the sill plates, the crawl space or basement, the joists and any wood that touches soil. It should record moisture and the places that cannot be reached, and it should end with a written report of what was found.
Start at the foundation. The inspector should look at the outside and inside of the foundation walls, the piers and the concrete around the building for mud tubes and damage. The sill plate, where the wood frame rests on the foundation, is a key point to check, because it is the usual point where soil and wood meet.
Next, the inspection moves into the crawl space or basement. The joists, the subfloor and any wood in contact with the soil should be examined. Moisture is part of this check, because damp conditions make a building more attractive to termites and can also be a sign of a drainage problem. Finished basements can hide damage, so an inspector may ask to open a section of finish or may note the limit of what can be seen.
A good inspection ends with a written report. The report should list what was checked, what was found, which areas could not be reached and what the recommendations are. A report that only says the building is clear, without describing the scope, is not a complete record. Ask for the report to be explained before any treatment is discussed.
Why do basements and crawl spaces matter so much?
Basements and crawl spaces are where the soil and the structure meet, which makes them the most important areas for termite inspection. Older homes with raised foundations and finished basements can be harder to inspect, so the access and the notes matter more.
The lowest part of the house is where termites have the most direct contact with soil and wood. A crawl space with little headroom, a damp floor and wood close to the ground gives termites a route that is easy to use and hard to see. The inspection in those spaces is slower, and the quote should reflect that time.
Finished basements are a particular problem. A basement that has been finished with drywall, paneling and carpet can hide wood that is damaged behind the finishes. The inspector may be able to see only the parts of the framing that are exposed, so the report should say which areas were not visible. A homeowner who knows about a finished area can mention it when calling.
Drainage and moisture matter in both spaces. Gutters that empty near the foundation, a grade that slopes toward the house and a sump pump that discharges close to the wall can all keep the soil damp. Correcting the moisture is part of the long-term plan, and it is often as important as the treatment itself.
What happens after an inspection?
After an inspection, the next step depends on what was found. Options can include a liquid soil treatment, a bait system or monitoring, and the reasons for the choice should be written down so the homeowner can compare the options.
A liquid soil treatment places material in the soil around the foundation to create a barrier. A bait system uses stations placed around the building, which termites find and feed on, and which are checked on a schedule. The two are different jobs with different monitoring, and neither is right for every house. Ask which method is proposed, why it suits this building and what the follow-up looks like.
Monitoring is part of most termite plans. Whether a bait system or a soil treatment is used, the building should be checked over time, and the quote should say how often and what the visits include. A plan that promises the building will never have termites again is not a plan a careful company would write, because no inspection can prove an absence.
The treatment and the inspection are separate services. The termite inspection is the diagnosis, and the termite control work is the response. Keeping them separate lets a homeowner compare the findings against the plan. Ask for both in writing, and call (855) 974-4733 to begin with an inspection of the building in Tinley Park.
Frequently asked questions
Are winged ants the same thing as termites?
No. Winged ants and termite swarmers look similar at a glance. Ants usually have elbowed antennae and a narrow waist, while termites usually have straight antennae and a broad waist. A technician can confirm which insect it is.
How do I know if termites are in my house?
Mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, frass and shed wings are all reasons to call for an inspection. A single sign is not proof, but several together, or any mud tube, justify a closer look.
Will a termite inspection damage my walls or floors?
A careful inspection looks at exposed framing, the foundation and accessible spaces, and it does not need to open walls unless the inspector has a specific reason. Ask the company what the inspection involves before it starts.
Is a termite treatment the same as a termite inspection?
No. The inspection finds out whether termites are present and where. The treatment is the response, and it should be chosen after the inspection, with the reasons written in the quote.
Why does my home need moisture control if I already had a treatment?
Damp soil and wood attract termites and other pests. Moisture control, such as clearing gutters and grading the soil away from the foundation, supports any treatment and reduces the conditions that bring the insects back.
Sources
This guide is general information for Cook County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.