Mysterious piles of pellets can indicate the presence of a termite colony. Oftentimes, these pellets are referred to as frass. If you want to know how to distinguish carpenter ant frass from termite frass, use this guide below.
What Does Carpenter Ant Frass Look Like?
There are a few ways to visibly separate the two types of droppings. For instance, carpenter ant frass looks a lot like wood shavings.
Frass produced by carpenter ants will ultimately vary in size, while termite droppings are always the same size and shape. Carpenter ant frass is typically a light-colored sawdust.
What Does Termite Frass Look Like?
Drywood termite pellets are tiny, oval-shaped capsules featuring six concave sides. The pellets also have noticeable, rounded ends.
The pellets usually measure about 1 millimeter in length. They can form small mounds beneath kick out holes. The mounds are often described as looking like small piles of either salt or pepper.
Drywood frass can be a variety of colors depending on the color of wood the termites have eaten. However, all drywood droppings will be six-sided and recognizable.
Drywood Frass
In most cases, drywood termites will leave many signs of their activity within a home or surrounding it. When two drywood termites establish a small nest in wood, they will seal the area they ultimately used to enter the wood. From this point on, they will never leave the nest.
Drywood termites often find everything they need to survive while inside wood. This includes water, food, shelter, and an ideal temperature. Unlimited space is the only thing these termites will not have inside their nest. As the termites consume wood, they create kick out holes that are used to push frass outside of the nest.
Subterranean Frass
Unfortunately for homeowners, subterranean termites will not leave behind any visible droppings or frass. Their first sign of infestation is usually creating mud tunnels that either run up walls or home foundations.
These termites will use their droppings in the construction of these tunnels. This means their frass cannot be distinguished from the nest. Unless you notice a swarm, homeowners will not see signs of their presence.
Differences Between Carpenter Ant And Termite Frass
While termite and carpenter ant frass can look quite similar at times, there are a few ways to tell the droppings apart. Here are a few visible signs outlined below.
Appearance
Homeowners will be able to identify frass by checking its physical appearance. These two droppings can differ by size and shape. Carpenter ant frass, as mentioned, looks like wood shavings. Termite frass, meanwhile, is oval-shaped and always uniform-sized.
The color of the frass can change based on the wood the pests have been consuming. Termite frass can go from shades of tan to brown. Carpenter ant frass always looks like light-colored sawdust.
Frass Location
Analyzing where the frass is located will help you determine whether it belongs to a termite or carpenter ant. For instance, frass located near the opening of a nest belongs to carpenter ants.
The location of termite frass is far more erratic. Typically, you can expect to find their frass around their nest and beneath the damaged wood.
Frass Components
Termite frass is often comprised of digested wood particles or sawdust material. Carpenter ant frass may contain wood debris, insect parts, soil and gravel.
The difference in components relates directly to each insect’s nesting and eating habits.
How To Get Rid Of Frass
Always take precautions when attempting to clean up any droppings, even if this frass is not as harmful as other pests’ droppings. Clean up the frass by using a paper towel and sanitizing the area afterward.
Use protective gear like face masks and gloves to avoid inhaling any viruses. If you notice any termite droppings around your property, it’s best to contact the team at Poor Boy Termite Control.
Termite Control Phoenix Metro Area
Poor Boy Termite Control can solve all of you termite issues. We only deal with termites as the name implies. We use thermal imaging, with no drilling or guessing. At Poor Boy Termite Control we detect termites and treat them. If you have a termite infestation, Call Poor Boy Termite Control at (480) 994-4240 and schedule an appointment before the problem gets worse!
