Termites
5 Early Signs of Termites Every Hudson Valley Homeowner Should Know
Published 9/14/2025 · 5 min read
By the time termites are obvious, damage is already major. Here's how to catch them at year one instead of year five.
1. Mud tubes on the foundation
Pencil-width mud tubes running up your foundation are diagnostic for subterranean termites — the only species that matters in the Hudson Valley.
2. Swarmers in the spring
Winged termites indoors between March and May, especially near windows. Save a specimen for identification.
3. Hollow-sounding wood
Tap window frames, thresholds, and trim. Termites eat wood from the inside out — surface looks fine, tap sounds hollow.
4. Bubbling or peeling paint
Termite moisture blisters paint. Often mistaken for water damage.
5. Discarded wings
After swarming, termites shed their wings in small piles near window sills and light fixtures. Ants shed unequal wings; termite wings are all identical size.