What indicates a live infestation during a termite inspection?

The observation of live organisms is a definitive indicator of a live termite infestation. When conducting a termite inspection, finding active termites in their natural behavior—such as foraging for food or moving within their colony—is a strong sign that an infestation is currently happening. This direct encounter confirms that the termites are alive and thriving in that particular area, providing solid evidence of an ongoing problem requiring immediate attention.

While other indicators, such as mud tubes, damaged wood structures, and frass accumulation, can suggest the presence of termites, they do not confirm that the infestation is live. Mud tubes indicate that termites may have traveled in that area historically or are currently active, but they do not individually confirm active infestation without the presence of live insects. Similarly, damaged wood structures signify that termites have been present, but they could be remnants of previous infestations. Frass, or termite droppings, indicates termite activity, but without seeing live termites, the evidence could be outdated. Therefore, the observation of live organisms stands out as the most definitive indicator of an active infestation.