Below are five insects that commonly attack wood in the logs of wooden homes:
termites; wood-boring beetles; carpenter ants; carpenter bees; and wood wasps. nspectors should become familiar with the wood-destroying insects likely to be found in the areas in which the inspector operates, and learn to recognize evidence of infestation, such as entry and exit holes, tunnel appearance, the presence or lack of frass, and the insects themselves. Some types of insect activity can be heard using a stethoscope.

As eusocial insects, termites live in colonies that, at maturity, number from several hundred to several million individuals. Colonies use decentralised, self-organised systems of activity guided by swarm intelligence to exploit food sources and environments that could not be available to any single insect acting alone. A typical colony contains nymphs (semi-mature young), workers, soldiers, and reproductive individuals of both genders, sometimes containing several egg-laying queens.

The different growth stages and forms of termites: eggs; newly hatched larva; larva; worker; soldier; nymph; and swarmer. Subterranean termites cause the most damage to wood in US. Each colony has three types of termite or castes; soldiers; workers and reproductives. A female that has flown, mated, and is producing eggs is called a “queen.” Similarly, a male that has flown, mated, and in proximity to a queen is termed a “king.” Research using genetic techniques to determine relatedness of colony members is showing that the idea that colonies are only ever headed by a monogamous royal pair is wrong. Multiple pairs of reproductives within a colony are not uncommon. In the families Rhinotermitidae and Termitidae, and possibly others, sperm competition does not seem to occur (male genitalia are very simple and the sperm are anucleate), suggesting that only one male (king) generally mates within the colony.

Visible evidence of infestation includes:
mud tubes attached to vertical surfaces, such as foundation walls and piers, especially near areas with high moisture levels; discolored wood, blistered paint, and other signs of damaged wood;
small, hard fecal pellets; any termites inside the home (check window sills for winged termites); heavily excavated wood that may be so thin at the surface that holes appear. Termites seal these holes with a mud-like substance; piles of pellets below holes; and piles of wings, which would indicate a recent infestation.

The presence of a few foraging ants in the home, or 1 or 2 winged queens during swarming times does not mean you have an infestation. These foragers may merely be scout ants seeking food or nesting sites or queens that have flown in an open door.

Foraging ants have been seen entering homes along telephone wires or along branches touching the roof or even from ground trails that come under a door. In such cases, the house may be a nesting area. If ants are coming in, there may be a nest outside the house and eventually they may establish satellite colonies in some part of the structure. Be certain they are carpenter ants and not moisture ants, termites or yellowjackets.

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