After a swarm, LSU AgCenter advises inspecting both the home and the trees, because a swarm points to a nearby infestation. This checklist sets out what to look at around the house, the foundation and the yard, in the order a careful owner can do it, and it notes what the owner should record before the inspector arrives.
Key takeaways
- Inspect the home and the trees, as the AgCenter advises after a swarm.
- Record the swarm's date, place and the wings before anything is cleaned up.
- Check the foundation edge, the soil line and every stump and woodpile against the house.
- Look at the trees and stumps for dead wood, cracks and soil packed into the base.
- Keep the checklist and the photographs together for the inspector and for later checks.
Before you start: what to record
Record the date, the time, the place and the number of wings or insects, and keep a sample in a sealed container. These are the facts an inspector needs most and the ones that are lost first.
Write down the first sighting, the last sighting and any sighting in between. A swarm that lasts for one evening and a swarm that appears on three evenings are different pieces of evidence, and the inspector will want to know which one this is.
Photograph the wings where they were found, from close up and from further back. A wide photograph shows where the wall, the light or the step sits relative to the wings, and that is what lets the inspector follow the trail.
The house: a checklist by side
Walk each side of the house and check the foundation edge, the soil line and the entry points. The table lists what to look for on each side and what to write down.
Start at the front door and work around the house in one direction, so that no side is missed. Note the side of the house where the swarm was seen, and check that side first and most carefully, since a trail usually runs from the place of the swarm toward its source.
Use the table to keep the walk consistent. Each row is a thing to check, and the last column is what to write in the note. A row with nothing found should still be recorded as checked and clear.
| Check | What to look for | Note to write |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation edge | Mud tubes, soil bridges, cracks at the slab or block line | Side, height, length of any tube |
| Soil line | Mulch, pine straw or soil above the brick or siding line | Measured distance from the wall |
| Porch and steps | Tubes on footings, soil contact at the step | Which footing or step, and its condition |
| Light and door | Wings on the sill or threshold, gaps at the door | Light type, door gap, wing count |
| Window sills | Wings in the corners, soft or blistered paint | Room, sill, and date noted |
| Downspouts and spigots | Drip, overflow or discharge at the foundation | Location and whether it was wet |
The yard: trees, stumps and stored material
Trees, stumps and any wood or cardboard in the yard should be checked for signs of activity, because a colony can be outside the house. The second table covers the yard.
A stump is a common source of a swarm, and an old stump near the foundation is a finding that needs its own line in the note. Check the base, the root flare and any crack, and note whether soil is packed into the crevice.
Dead limbs and hollow wood near the ground should be recorded and reported. The decision to remove a tree belongs to the owner and an arborist, but the note should say where the dead wood is and how close it sits to the house.
| Item | What to look for | Distance and note |
|---|---|---|
| Trees near the house | Cracks, dead limbs, soil at the base | Distance from the foundation |
| Stumps | Soft wood, mud, tubes, wings in the crotch | Distance and route to the house |
| Woodpiles | Insects, tubes, wood touching soil | Distance from the wall |
| Fence posts | Wood contact with soil, any soft wood | Which side, whether it touches the house |
| Cardboard and stored boxes | Boxes against the foundation or under a porch | Location and whether they can be moved |
After the checklist: what goes to the inspector
The checklist, the photographs and the sample go to the inspector together, with a short statement of what was seen and where. Keep a copy for the house file.
The inspector can use the checklist to plan the walk and to decide where to open the wall or probe the wood. A note that is complete and dated saves time on the day and makes the report more accurate.
Keep the checklist with the house papers and add to it at each later check. A second swarm in the same spot, or a new tube on the same pier, is much easier to read against a dated first record.
What not to do before the inspection
Do not spray or sweep away the wings, do not dig up stumps or mulch and do not cover a trail with new material. Each of those can remove evidence the inspector needs.
Leave the mud tubes in place and do not break them open, since a broken tube is harder to read and can cause the colony to rebuild elsewhere. Note where the tube is and photograph it.
Do not add mulch or stacked wood to the spot where the swarm was seen while the inspection is waiting. New material can hide the trail, and it adds cover for the colony.
Why do the trees belong in a house check?
Because a colony can be outside the house, in a stump, a dead limb or the base of a tree, and it can send swarmers toward the house from there. The AgCenter advises checking the trees after a swarm for that reason.
A swarm that lands on a porch may have started in a tree or stump a short distance away, and the house is simply the nearest bright light. The checklist asks for the trees and stumps to be recorded alongside the walls so that the inspector can follow the trail to the most likely source.
The trees are also a risk in their own right. Dead wood near the house can fall, and an arborist should look at any large dead limb or unstable trunk. The note should record the risk, and the decision belongs to the owner and the arborist.
What to do with swarm evidence found indoors
Wings and swarmers inside the house show that insects got in through an opening, which the checklist should record. The room, the window or door and the wall nearest the wings are the places to check first.
Close the door to the room and leave the wings where they are until the inspector has seen them, unless they are on a surface that must be cleaned for health reasons. Photograph them where they lie and note the room, the time of day and the state of the window or door.
An opening that let the swarmers in is also a route for other pests. The checklist should note the gap, and the sealing is a job for the general pest service or for the owner, once the inspection has been done.
Keeping a dated record across several seasons
A checklist kept for several years shows whether the activity is repeating, moving or stopping. The same spots should be recorded in the same way each time, so the comparison is fair.
Number the trees, stumps, sides of the house and the light fixtures on the first record, and use the same numbers every year. A stump recorded as 'stump 3' in one year should still be 'stump 3' in the next, with its distance from the house written down each time.
The record is the most valuable thing the owner keeps about the house's termite history. A buyer, a builder or a later inspector will ask for it, and a record that is complete and dated answers the question of what was seen and when.
When to call the swarm inspection rather than wait
Call the same day if a swarm is still happening, if swarmers are inside the house or if the wings keep appearing over several evenings. Waiting longer than a few days after a single sighting loses evidence and time.
A swarm that has stopped by the time the call is made is still worth reporting, because the wings and the trail remain. The inspector can work from them, though the sooner the call is made the more the evidence is worth.
The line is answered 24/7, so a call at night is taken when it happens and the inspection is booked for the day. The checklist goes with the call, and it is the first thing the inspector will want to see.
What to do with the checklist after the inspection
After the inspection, the checklist becomes the baseline for the next season. The findings are added to it, the cleared items are marked with their dates and the open items are carried forward with a named owner.
A checklist that is updated after each visit becomes a living record of the property. The first version is a snapshot, and each later version shows what changed. That change is the information a homeowner needs to judge whether the plan is working.
Keep the original and each update, so the history can be read in order. A buyer or a later inspector will value a record that shows what was found, what was done and what was left open.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to check the trees if the swarm was at the house?
Yes. The AgCenter advises inspecting both the home and the trees, because the colony may be outside the house. A checklist that stops at the walls can miss the most likely source.
How long should the checklist take?
It depends on the size of the lot. A house with a small yard can be walked in under an hour, and a larger lot takes longer. The note should be complete rather than quick.
Can I do the checklist myself?
Yes, and it helps. The homeowner's walk is the record the inspector starts from. The inspection itself, with probing and moisture readings, is a separate step.
What if I find a stump right against the house?
Record it, photograph it and tell the inspector first. A stump against the foundation is one of the most important findings on the list.
Sources
This guide is general information for Lafayette Parish homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.