Found Mud Tubes? That's Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites build mud tubes to maintain moisture and protection as they travel from soil to wood. These tubes are made of soil particles, termite secretions, and wood fragments. They can run along foundations, inside walls, through concrete cracks, and along plumbing.

There are several types of tubes: working tubes (main highways from soil to wood, typically 1/4" to 1/2" wide), exploratory tubes (thin exploratory branches), and drop tubes (hanging down from wood above, indicating infestation in overhead framing).

To check if a tube is active, break a small section and check back in 24–48 hours. If the tube has been repaired, the colony is currently active. If not, the infestation may be old — but an inspection is still warranted to check for current activity elsewhere.

Subterranean termites can cause extensive structural damage because they attack load-bearing wood from below — floor joists, sill plates, and wall framing. Unlike drywood termites, you often don't see surface damage until it's severe.

Treatment: Termidor (fipronil) soil barrier treatment is the gold standard for subterranean termites. Applied in a trench around the foundation perimeter, Termidor creates a continuous treatment zone that termites contact and transfer back to the colony, eliminating it within 90 days.