After inspecting thousands of homes, I’ve heard just about everything. Some folks even claim they can hear termites in their walls. I’m not including that one—how would I know? But here are a few common termite myths I can confidently clear up:

1. “The termites came from my neighbor’s house after they tented.”
   This one comes up more often than you’d think. People have told me, straight-faced, that they believe termites left a neighbor’s fumigated house and moved into theirs. Here’s the truth: termite workers are essentially blind grubs. The queen never moves. Soldiers can’t even feed themselves. The only termites that travel are the winged reproductives, and they swarm under very specific conditions just once a year. Termites don’t know their house is being fumigated, and even if they did, they couldn’t escape. They’re not packing up and heading next door.
2. “The swarm is coming from the window frame.”
   Swarming termites are drawn to the brightest light source—usually a window or sliding glass door. That’s where they congregate, and it’s easy to assume that’s where they came from. But that’s rarely the case. They’re most likely coming from somewhere else entirely and just ended up there. The swarm’s destination is not necessarily its origin.
3. “My house might collapse.”
   Drywood termite colonies can grow into the thousands, but that’s under optimal conditions—and most homes don’t provide enough moisture for that. Will drywood termites cause major damage? Yes. Could they cost you thousands in repairs? Absolutely.
   But bring the house down? Not likely. A rafter tail or two, sure. But not the whole structure.

    

That said—Formosan termites are a different story. I’ve only encountered them once in Southern California, but it wasn’t pretty. Their colonies can number in the millions. If you get them, you need fumigation and a soil treatment. In places like Hawaii, where they’re more common, some HOAs even require biannual inspections. Moral of the story: check your luggage after your island getaway, and don’t bring any wood souvenirs home.

4. “That crawling bug must be a termite.”
   Unless it’s crawling with a few dozen identical bugs and there’s a pile of discarded wings nearby, it’s probably not a termite. Most termites stay hidden—inside wood or behind mud tubes. You’re not going to see them just strolling across your kitchen floor. If you do, that’s not normal, and it’s worth investigating.

Bottom line:
Be vigilant. Like luggage left unattended at an airport, anything suspicious should be checked out. If you don’t already have a termite professional, find one and build a relationship. Because with termites, it’s not if—it’s when.