What is a common indicator of an infestation of powder-post termites?

A common indicator of a powder-post termite infestation is the presence of wood dust pellets. These pellets, referred to as frass, are a sign that the termites have been actively feeding on wood. When powder-post termites consume wood, they create small pellets as a byproduct of their digestion. These pellets can often be found near infested wood, making them a direct indicator of the pest's activity and presence in a structure.

The other indicators, while related to termite activity, do not specifically point to powder-post termites. For example, live termites could indicate a variety of termite species, and swarmers in the spring are generally associated with reproductive behavior in several termite types, not just powder-post. Additionally, frass that is light and fluffy is more characteristic of other termite species, such as drywood termites, rather than the compact and hard pellets produced by powder-post termites. Understanding these distinctions is critical for accurate identification and treatment of the respective termite species.