Termites are the only pest that can quietly cost you tens of thousands of dollars while showing almost no sign of being there.
Eastern subterranean termites are active throughout Illinois, they enter from the soil, and they eat wood from the inside out which is exactly why the damage is usually well advanced by the time anyone notices.
Quick Answer
Look for mud tubes on foundation walls, wood that sounds hollow when tapped, paint that looks blistered or rippled, and spring swarms of dark winged insects near windows. An annual inspection is the cheapest insurance in pest control and essential before buying or selling a home.
The Signs Homeowners Miss
| What you notice | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Thin mud tubes on foundation or basement walls | Active termite highway between soil and wood |
| Wood that sounds hollow or papery when tapped | Galleries already eaten out inside the timber |
| Paint that looks blistered, rippled or bubbled | Termites working just beneath the surface |
| A door or window that suddenly sticks | Structural timber losing strength |
| Small piles of discarded wings on a sill in spring | A swarm has emerged — a colony is nearby or inside |
| Tiny holes with dried mud around them | Termite entry point, often mistaken for nail holes |
Termite Swarm or Flying Ants
Every spring we get calls about winged insects at the windows, and telling the two apart takes about five seconds once you know what to look at.
Termite swarmers have two pairs of wings of equal length, a straight waist and straight antennae.
Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae, and front wings noticeably longer than the back pair. If the wings are equal and the body is straight-sided, take it seriously.
Do Not Disturb the Evidence
If you find mud tubes or damaged wood, resist the urge to break it open, spray it or clean it up. Intact evidence tells a technician where the colony is travelling and how active it is. Disturbing it can also push the colony to relocate within the structure, which makes treatment harder.
How Termites Are Actually Treated
There are two proven approaches. A continuous soil termiticide barrier is applied around the foundation so termites cannot reach the structure without passing through treated soil.
A monitored baiting system places stations in the soil that the colony feeds on, eliminating it over time. Which one suits your property depends on construction, soil, landscaping and whether there is a slab, crawlspace or full basement.
Either way, treatment alone is only half the job. We also correct what made the structure attractive: wood-to-soil contact, mulch piled against siding, poor drainage, downspouts discharging at the foundation, firewood stacked against the house, and chronic crawlspace moisture.
Reduce Your Risk This Season
Prevention Checklist
- Keep mulch and soil at least six inches below siding, and eliminate any wood touching soil.
- Extend downspouts away from the foundation and correct grading so water drains away.
- Store firewood off the ground and away from the house and garage.
- Fix plumbing leaks and ventilate damp crawlspaces promptly.
- Keep an eighteen-inch inspection gap visible between soil and any wooden structural element.
- Book an annual inspection — especially before a real estate transaction.
Get a Termite Inspection
If you have seen any of the signs above, or it has been more than a year since your last inspection, call +1 (833) 425-2058 or request a free inspection. See our termite control in Illinois page, or read the complete guide to full-service pest control in Illinois.
An Inspection Costs Nothing. Termite Damage Does Not.
Serving Illinois homes and businesses from Crete since 1980.