Subterranean Termites in Ohio: What Every Homeowner Should Know

Subterranean termites are the only termite species that regularly damages homes in Ohio. They nest in the soil, build mud tubes up foundations, and eat wood from the inside out. By the time most homeowners notice, the colony has been active for months.

The three biggest warning signs are pencil-thin mud tubes on foundation walls, hollow sounding wood along baseboards, and swarms of small winged insects near windows in early spring. Discarded wings on a windowsill are almost always a swarm sign.

Ohio's clay heavy soil and freeze thaw cycles push termites deeper for most of the year, then send them surging in spring. A yearly inspection is the cheapest insurance a home can carry, especially in older neighborhoods around New Carlisle, Springfield, and Dayton.

If you see mud tubes or swarmers, don't spray. A retail can of insecticide scatters the colony and makes professional treatment harder. Call and get an inspection scheduled first.