Subterranean termites in Oklahoma are masters of concealment. They live in the soil, travel inside mud tubes, and feed from the inside of wood outward — meaning visible damage is often a late-stage indicator. Here are the seven signs to check for, in rough order of how early in the process they appear.

1. Mud Tubes on Your Foundation

This is the most reliable early indicator. Mud tubes are pencil-width tunnels of soil and chewed wood running along your foundation wall, up concrete block, across crawl space piers, or along floor joists. They protect termites from light and moisture loss as they travel from soil to wood. Check your foundation perimeter, crawl space, and any point where wood contacts or approaches concrete. Finding a mud tube doesn’t necessarily mean active infestation — break one open and check for live termites inside. But finding one warrants a full inspection regardless.

2. Swarmers or Discarded Wings in Spring

Oklahoma’s subterranean termite swarm season runs roughly February through May. Swarmers are winged reproductives — they emerge from established colonies to start new ones. Finding a swarm of winged insects near windows or doors, or discovering a pile of discarded wings (they shed them after landing), indicates an established colony nearby. This is often the first sign homeowners notice.

Termites vs. ants: Both swarm, but they’re different. Termites have straight antennae, a thick uniform waist, and wings of equal length. Ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist, and wings of unequal length. Finding either warrants investigation.

3. Hollow-Sounding Wood

Subterranean termites eat wood from the inside, following the grain and leaving only a thin shell. Tapping along baseboards, door frames, window frames, and floor joists with a screwdriver handle can reveal hollow areas. A solid wood member sounds dense; a termite-damaged one sounds papery or hollow. This is a mid-to-late stage indicator.

4. Paint Bubbling or Warping Without a Moisture Source

Termites maintain humidity inside their galleries, which can cause moisture to accumulate behind walls. Paint that blisters, bubbles, or peels in a pattern that doesn’t match any known plumbing leak is worth investigating. This looks nearly identical to water damage — which is why it often gets ignored or misdiagnosed.

5. Stuck Doors and Windows

Termite activity in door frames and window frames can cause wood to warp slightly as moisture levels change inside galleries. A door or window that suddenly becomes difficult to open — particularly in the absence of recent weather changes — can indicate structural damage. This is a later-stage sign.

6. Visible Damage to Structural Wood

If you can see wood damage — tunnels running parallel to the grain, a honeycomb interior, or soft spots in flooring — the infestation is advanced. Inspect crawl space floor joists, the base plates where framing meets the foundation, and any wood near exterior walls. Probe suspected areas with a screwdriver: if it sinks in without resistance, termite or moisture damage is present.

7. Nothing — Termites Often Show No Signs Until the Damage Is Done

This is not dramatic — it’s the reality of subterranean termites in Oklahoma. A colony can be active inside your walls for 3-5 years before any of the above signs appear. Annual professional inspections are the only reliable way to catch activity early. The cost of an annual inspection is a fraction of the cost of structural repair.

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Jake Murray is the owner of Murray Pest Control and holds a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University. Murray Pest Control serves Stillwater, Edmond, and Payne County, Oklahoma.