Found Tiny Holes in the Wood? When Should You Get a Termite Inspection? (2026)

You're wiping down the windowsill and you notice them. Tiny holes in the wood trim, barely bigger than the tip of a ballpoint pen. Maybe there's a small pile of what looks like coarse sand or coffee grounds underneath. Maybe there isn't. Maybe the holes have been there for years and you're just now seeing them. Maybe they're new.

The natural reaction is to wonder whether those holes mean termites. The honest answer is: they might. But they might also be from wood-boring beetles, carpenter ants, or nothing more than old nail holes from a previous repair. The type of hole, the debris around it, the location, and the condition of the surrounding wood all tell different stories, and the wrong guess leads to either unnecessary panic or dangerous complacency.

This guide covers what those tiny holes actually mean, how to tell whether they point to termites or something else, and when the answer is "call a professional before this gets expensive."

What Termite Holes Actually Look Like

Not all holes in wood are termite holes, and not all termites create the same kind of holes. San Diego has two primary termite species, and they leave different evidence.

Drywood termite kick-out holes are tiny, roughly 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter (about the size of a pinhead), and perfectly round. These are the holes drywood termites create to push their waste pellets (called frass) out of the wood they're living in. The holes themselves are the exit, not the entrance. The termites are already inside the wood, eating galleries through it, and using these holes to keep their tunnels clean.

The frass that accumulates below kick-out holes is the single clearest indicator of drywood termite activity. According to Thrasher Pest Control's 2026 San Diego termite guide, drywood termite frass consists of small, six-sided pellets that look like coarse sand or ground pepper. They're hard, dry, and wood-colored (ranging from light tan to dark brown depending on the wood species). If you sweep them up and find a new pile the next day, the infestation is active.

Subterranean termites don't create kick-out holes. They enter wood from below (through the soil) and build mud tubes to travel between their underground colony and the wood they're feeding on. You won't see tiny holes in the wood surface from subterranean termites. You'll see mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, and crawl space surfaces, and you'll find wood that sounds hollow when tapped near the ground level.

Wood-boring beetle exit holes can look similar to termite kick-out holes but are often slightly larger (1 to 3 millimeters) and may produce a fine, powdery dust (called frass, same term but different texture) rather than the hard, pellet-shaped frass of drywood termites. Beetle frass looks and feels like fine sawdust. Termite frass looks and feels like coarse sand.

Evidence	Drywood Termites	Subterranean Termites	Wood-Boring Beetles
Holes in wood surface	Yes (1-2mm round kick-out holes)	No (enter from below via mud tubes)	Yes (1-3mm exit holes)
Frass/debris	Hard, six-sided pellets (sand-like)	None visible	Fine, powdery dust (sawdust-like)
Mud tubes	No	Yes (on foundations, piers, walls)	No
Soil contact needed	No (live inside the wood)	Yes (colony in soil)	No
Common locations in San Diego	Attic framing, window frames, door frames, eaves	Foundation, crawl space, subfloor, sill plates	Hardwood floors, furniture, trim
San Diego swarm season	Late summer/fall (September to November)	Spring (after warm rain)	Varies by species

Where to Look in Your Home

If you've found holes in one location, check the rest of the house. Drywood termites can infest multiple areas simultaneously because they don't need a ground connection. They fly in as swarmers, land on exposed wood, and start a new colony wherever they find suitable material.

Window frames and sills. One of the most common locations for drywood termite evidence. Look for frass pellets on the sill below the frame, and check the frame itself for tiny kick-out holes.

Door frames. Especially exterior door frames and the header above the door. Tap the wood with a screwdriver handle. Solid wood produces a sharp, ringing tap. Hollow wood (eaten from inside) produces a dull, papery sound.

Baseboards and crown molding. Run your hand along the top of the baseboard and check for pellet accumulation. Check behind furniture that rarely moves, where frass can pile up unnoticed for months.

Attic framing. Rafters, ridge beams, and collar ties in the attic are common drywood termite targets in San Diego because the wood is exposed and accessible to swarmers that enter through vents. If you can access your attic, check the framing for kick-out holes and look for frass accumulation on the attic floor below the framing.

Garage framing and stored wood. Exposed wood in the garage (header above the garage door, wall framing if not finished, stored lumber) is vulnerable.

For more on how water damage in these same locations creates conditions that attract termites, our water damage guide covers the connection.

When Those Holes Mean You Need a Professional Inspection

Not every hole requires a full termite inspection. But certain combinations of evidence should trigger one.

Call for an inspection when you find frass pellets. Hard, six-sided pellets below holes in the wood are the clearest drywood termite indicator. If new pellets appear after you clean them up, the infestation is active and producing waste.

Call when you find hollow-sounding wood. Tap wood surfaces with a screwdriver handle. If the sound changes from solid to hollow in certain areas, something has eaten the interior. Termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin shell of surface material that looks fine but has nothing behind it.

Call when you see mud tubes. Pencil-width tunnels of soil and saliva running up a foundation wall, pier, or crawl space surface mean subterranean termites are traveling between the ground and the wood in your structure.

Call when you find discarded wings. After a swarm event, termites shed their wings near the entry point (often windowsills, door frames, or light fixtures). Finding piles of tiny, translucent wings indoors indicates termites have swarmed inside or very near the structure.

Call when the wood is structurally compromised. If you push a screwdriver into the wood and it slides in easily (rather than meeting resistance), the wood has been significantly consumed. This isn't a "let's wait and see" situation.

What a Termite Inspection Covers

A Wood Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection is performed by a licensed pest control operator (in California, a Branch 3 licensee) and covers a more targeted scope than a general home inspection.

The inspector checks all accessible wood components for evidence of termite activity (frass, kick-out holes, mud tubes, damage). They evaluate the exterior perimeter for entry points and conditions conducive to infestation (wood-to-soil contact, moisture, vegetation touching the structure). They check the attic, crawl space (if accessible), garage, and interior framing. And they produce a report that identifies any active infestations, evidence of prior infestations, and conditions that could lead to future activity.

The WDO inspection is different from (and typically separate from) a general home inspection. Our home inspection guide covers what the general inspection evaluates. For termite-specific concerns, the WDO inspection provides the specialized evaluation.

What a Termite Inspection Costs in San Diego

Most residential WDO inspections in San Diego cost $75 to $200. In many real estate transactions, the seller pays for the termite inspection as part of the standard transaction process. If you're a homeowner investigating a concern outside of a real estate transaction, expect to pay $100 to $200 for a standalone inspection.

Compare that to the cost of termite damage repair. Localized drywood termite treatment (spot treatment or section fumigation) can run $500 to $2,500 depending on accessibility and extent. Full-structure fumigation (tenting) costs $1,200 to $3,500 or more depending on home size. Structural wood repair for significant termite damage can run $2,000 to $10,000 or more depending on the extent of damage.

The inspection is a fraction of any of those costs. And catching an infestation early (when the damage is limited to one area) is dramatically less expensive than catching it after the termites have spread to multiple structural members.

How 360 Connects Home Inspection Findings to Termite Concerns

During our standard home inspections, we evaluate accessible wood components and note any conditions that suggest termite activity or conditions conducive to it (wood-to-soil contact, moisture, deteriorated wood). When we find evidence that warrants a WDO inspection, we say so in the report and recommend a licensed pest control operator for the follow-up.

We're home inspectors, not pest control operators. The WDO inspection is a specialized scope performed by a separately licensed professional. What we provide is the building-level context: if we find moisture in a crawl space, deteriorated wood at the foundation, or stucco damage that's allowing water behind the wall, those conditions connect to termite risk and we document them.

Schedule online or call (858) 707-7066.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do tiny holes in wood always mean termites?

No. Small holes in wood can be from drywood termites (kick-out holes), wood-boring beetles (exit holes), carpenter ants (nest openings), or old fastener holes from previous repairs. The type of debris around the holes helps identify the cause: hard six-sided pellets mean drywood termites, fine powdery dust usually means beetles.

Q: What does drywood termite frass look like?

Drywood termite frass consists of small, hard, six-sided pellets that look like coarse sand or ground pepper. The color matches the wood being consumed, ranging from light tan to dark brown. The pellets accumulate in small piles below the kick-out holes where termites expel them.

Q: How much does a termite inspection cost in San Diego?

Most residential WDO inspections cost $75 to $200. In real estate transactions, the seller often pays. Standalone inspections for homeowners investigating a concern typically cost $100 to $200. The inspection cost is a fraction of the treatment and repair costs if an infestation is confirmed.

Q: What's the difference between drywood and subterranean termites?

Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat, leave six-sided frass pellets and kick-out holes, and don't need soil contact. Subterranean termites live in the soil, build mud tubes to reach wood, and need moisture from the ground. San Diego has both species, and each requires different treatment.

Q: When do termites swarm in San Diego?

Subterranean termites typically swarm in spring after a warm rain. Drywood termites swarm in late summer and fall (September through November) on warm afternoons. Finding discarded wings near windows or light fixtures after a swarm event is a sign that termites have entered or are near the structure.

Q: Can termites damage a house without visible signs?

Yes. Drywood termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving a thin surface shell that looks normal. Subterranean termites attack from below, damaging sill plates and subfloor framing that aren't visible without crawl space access. Both species can cause significant structural damage before the first visible sign appears.

Q: Should I get a termite inspection before buying a house in San Diego?

Yes. San Diego's climate supports year-round termite activity. A WDO inspection is standard in most San Diego real estate transactions and identifies active infestations, prior damage, and conditions conducive to future activity. The findings can be used for negotiation with the seller.

Q: Is a termite inspection the same as a home inspection?

No. A general home inspection evaluates all major systems in the house (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, roof, foundation, etc.). A WDO (termite) inspection is a separate, specialized evaluation performed by a licensed pest control operator that focuses specifically on wood-destroying organisms and the conditions that attract them.

Q: What should I do if the termite inspection finds an active infestation?

The inspector's report will identify the species, location, and extent of the infestation and recommend treatment options. For real estate transactions, the findings are used for negotiation (seller pays for treatment, price reduction, or repair credit). Treatment options range from localized spot treatment to full-structure fumigation depending on the species and extent.

Q: Can I do my own termite inspection?

You can check for visible signs (frass, holes, mud tubes, hollow wood, discarded wings), but a professional WDO inspection by a licensed Branch 3 operator covers areas you can't easily access (crawl spaces, attic framing, wall voids), uses specialized tools, and produces a report that holds weight in real estate transactions and insurance claims.

What the Holes Are Telling You

Tiny holes in wood are a question, not an answer. They might be termites. They might be beetles. They might be nothing. But if you're finding hard pellets underneath them, if the wood sounds hollow when you tap it, or if you've been sweeping up the same debris from the same spot for weeks, the question has answered itself.

A termite inspection costs $75 to $200 and takes less than an hour. The peace of mind (or the early catch that saves thousands) is worth more than the time you'll spend wondering whether those holes are a problem or not.

Cost estimates in this article reflect general ranges for the San Diego County market as of 2026. Treatment and repair costs vary based on species, extent, and accessibility. Always get quotes from licensed pest control operators before committing to treatment.