Termites
Subterranean Termite Identification & Control in Hampton Roads
Complete Pest Management has been treating Subterranean Termites in Newport News and Hampton Roads since 1993. Licensed and insured in Virginia — VDACS #11694.
Subterranean termites are the most economically destructive pest in Virginia — and Hampton Roads homeowners are among the most at risk in the state. They live underground in massive colonies and travel through mud tubes to reach wood in your home, eating it from the inside out. By the time most homeowners notice visible damage, colonies have often been feeding for years.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Subterranean Termites
Worker subterranean termites are soft-bodied, creamy-white to pale tan, about 1/8 inch long, and nearly blind — you'll rarely see them unless you break open an infested board. What you will see: pencil-width mud tubes running up foundation walls, piers, or exposed concrete — these are the termites' protected highways from soil to wood. Swarmers (reproductive termites) are dark-bodied with two equal-length wings and emerge in spring, often mistaken for flying ants. Key differences from flying ants: termites have straight antennae, equal-length wings, and a thick waist; ants have elbowed antennae, unequal wings, and a pinched waist. Damaged wood sounds hollow when tapped, shows a honeycomb pattern when broken open, and may feel soft or springy underfoot.
Why Subterranean Termites Are Common in Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads sits in USDA Termite Infestation Probability Zone 1 — the highest-risk category in the country. Our clay-heavy soil retains moisture, creating ideal subterranean conditions. The area's mild winters rarely get cold enough long enough to significantly reduce colony activity. Newport News and Yorktown's large stock of older homes built on crawlspace foundations gives termites direct soil-to-wood contact at countless entry points. Virginia Department of Forestry data consistently shows Tidewater Virginia among the highest termite activity regions in the state.
What to Do About Subterranean Termites
DIY Steps You Can Take Now
- ✓ Eliminate wood-to-soil contact around your home — stack firewood away from the foundation, remove old stumps and buried wood debris from the yard.
- ✓ Fix moisture sources: repair leaky gutters, improve drainage away from the foundation, and ensure crawlspace ventilation is adequate.
- ✓ Maintain a mulch-free zone at least 6 inches wide between mulch and your foundation — mulch retains moisture and provides a harborage bridge to your home.
- ✓ Inspect accessible crawlspace piers, floor joists, and sill plates annually for mud tubes or soft, hollow-sounding wood.
- ✓ Check for bubbling or peeling paint, sagging floors, and doors or windows that suddenly stick — these can indicate moisture damage from termite activity.
When to Call a Professional
- → You find mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, or exposed concrete inside or around your home.
- → You see a swarm of winged insects emerging from the ground, walls, or window frames — especially in spring.
- → Wood in your crawlspace, basement, or around windows sounds hollow when tapped.
- → You notice flooring that feels soft or springy, or doors and windows that have recently started sticking without an obvious cause.
Professional Treatment
Complete Pest Management treats Subterranean Termites as part of our Termite Control service.
Subterranean Termites FAQs — Hampton Roads
Look at three things: antennae (termites are straight, ants are elbowed), wings (termites have two equal pairs, ants have two unequal pairs), and waist (termites are thick-waisted, ants are pinched). If you find discarded wings near windows or doors after a swarm, save one and text us a photo at (757) 231-9176. Swarmers don't cause damage themselves — they're a sign a mature colony is nearby.
A mature eastern subterranean termite colony can consume about a foot of 2x4 in roughly six months — but real structural damage typically develops over two to five years of undetected feeding. The biggest risk is in crawlspace homes where wood is accessible from below and colonies can feed undisturbed for years. Annual inspections are the most cost-effective protection.
We offer liquid termiticide treatment — Termidor is the gold standard — applied as a continuous treated zone in the soil around and under your foundation. The product is non-repellent, so termites pass through it and transfer it back to the colony. We also offer bait station monitoring systems for situations where liquid treatment isn't practical. We'll recommend the right approach after a thorough inspection.
A liquid termiticide treatment for a typical Newport News crawlspace home runs $800–$1,400 depending on linear footage and soil conditions. Bait station programs start around $300 for installation with ongoing monitoring fees. Both options come with a re-treatment warranty if termites return. Call (757) 369-0966 for a firm quote after inspection.
Dealing with Subterranean Termites in Hampton Roads?
Same-week service available. Licensed and insured in Virginia.