Spotting termites in your home or business is never a pleasant surprise. However, spotting termites in winter can be an even more unexpected and appalling experience for home and business owners. Unfortunately, these wood-eating pests don’t always follow seasonal patterns. This article will cover everything you need to know about termites in winter, including what temperature kills them and actionable tips for protecting your property from a termite infestation.
Do Termites Die In Winter?
Many homeowners believe termites can’t survive cold weather; however, this is not entirely true. While extreme cold can be deadly for termites, most find ways to survive and stay active even during winter. Termites are cold-blooded insects, which means they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature. When temperatures drop, they don’t necessarily die—they adapt.
Whether termites can survive in winter depends on the species, their location, and the severity of the cold.
- Subterranean termites (the most common type) burrow deeper into the soil, where temperatures remain stable. This helps them stay warm and continue their activities even in freezing conditions. This insect species can be found in almost every state except Alaska.
- Drywood termites live inside wooden structures, which offer insulation against the cold. Since they don’t need soil to survive, they remain active within walls, furniture, and other wooden materials throughout winter.
- Formosan termites—a highly aggressive termite species found in California, North Carolina, Texas, and other US states—tend to live in warmer climates, but they can easily withstand winter if they find shelter inside buildings.
So, do termites die in cold weather? Not necessarily. If they are exposed to prolonged freezing temperatures without any shelter, they will die. However, since they are excellent at finding warm, protected spaces, termites are more likely to survive the winter rather than die off completely.
What Temperature Kills Termites?
The answer depends on how long they are exposed to the cold. According to one report, termites may die off when the ground freezes in winter.
- Below 25°F: If termites are directly exposed to temperatures this low for a long time, they will freeze to death. However, this rarely happens because they usually stay hidden in the soil or inside wood.
- Between 40°F and 60°F: Termites slow down but don’t die. They continue to feed and reproduce, especially if they are in a heated structure or underground.
- Above 60°F and higher: Termites remain fully active, eating through wood and expanding their colonies without any temperature-related restrictions.
In most cases, cold weather alone doesn’t kill termites or their infestation. Since termites often seek shelter in places that remain warm, such as soil, homes, and wooden beams, they can easily survive winter.
Do Termites Hibernate In Winter?
From flies and bees to beetles, many insects enter hibernation when temperatures drop. However, do termites hibernate in winter?
Contrary to popular belief, termites don’t hibernate. Instead, they go into a state called diapause, where their metabolism slows down but doesn’t completely stop. These insects are resilient and may adapt to colder temperatures in several ways. How termites can live in the winter largely depends on their species and location (as we mentioned).
Are Termites Active During the Winter? 6 Signs That Show They Are
Are termites active in the winter like ants, cockroaches, and ticks, or do they go dormant like wasps, beetles, and mosquitoes?
Unfortunately for property owners, termites don’t take a seasonal break. These wood-eating pests remain active as long as they have warmth, moisture, and food. If you suspect an infestation, here are 6 signs that termites are still active in your environment, even in the coldest months:
1. Mud Tubes on Your Walls or Foundation
Subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel safely from the soil to their food source. These pencil-thin tunnels provide shelter and moisture, allowing termites to survive in cold weather. If you notice mud tubes along your walls, foundation, or crawl space, it means termites are active even if it’s cold outside.
2. Hollow or Damaged Wood
Termites eat wood from the inside out. This often makes damage difficult to spot until it becomes severe. Try tapping on wooden surfaces such as doors, floors, or beams. If they sound hollow or feel weak, termites might be feeding underneath. Since termites are not dormant in winter, they continue chewing through wood no matter the season.
3. Discarded Wings Near Windows and Doors
Some termite species, such as dry-wood termites, swarm indoors if the temperature is warm enough. Swarming usually occurs when a colony is mature and looking to expand. If you find tiny wings near light sources, windows, or doors, it’s a strong sign that these pests are still active.
4. Small Piles of Termite Droppings (Frass)
Drywood termites leave behind tiny, pellet-like droppings called frass. These droppings look like small grains of sand or sawdust and often pile up near wooden structures. Finding frass in your home is a telltale sign that termites are present and actively eating through wood.
5. Stuck Doors and Windows
As termites tunnel through wooden doors and window frames, the moisture they produce can cause the wood to warp. This makes doors and windows harder to open or close. If you notice this issue developing in winter, termites may be the cause.
6. Faint Clicking Sounds Inside the Walls
Termites communicate by tapping their heads against wood, creating a faint clicking or rustling noise inside walls. If you hear strange sounds coming from your walls, especially at night when everything is quiet, you may have an active termite infestation.
6 Actionable Tips to Get Rid of Termites in the Winter
Termites are one of the most destructive pests. They can silently damage your home and structures before you even realize they’re there. If you’ve spotted signs of an infestation, it’s crucial to act fast before the problem worsens. Since termites live and survive in the winter and remain active indoors, you can’t rely on cold weather to eliminate them.
So, how do you effectively get rid of these insects? Below are some of the best actionable tips for removing termites and preventing them from returning:
1. Reduce Moisture Levels in Your Home
Termites thrive in moist environments. Whether you have subterranean termites in your soil or dry-wood termites inside your walls, reducing moisture levels can make your home less inviting.
Here’s what you can do:
- Fix leaks in your plumbing, roof, or gutters.
- Use dehumidifiers in basements, crawl spaces, and other damp areas.
- Improve ventilation in attics and basements to prevent moisture buildup.
Since termites hate the cold, some homeowners think winter will drive them away. However, if your home provides warmth and moisture, termites can live in cold weather without issues.
2. Store Firewood and Wooden Debris Away from Your Home
Firewood, tree stumps, and wooden debris attract termites in the winter by giving them an easy food source. If wood piles are too close to your home, termites may move from them into your walls.
Follow these tips to prevent this:
- Keep firewood at least 20 feet away from your home.
- Elevate woodpiles on a raised platform or metal rack.
- Remove dead tree stumps from your yard.
- Make sure to clean up fallen branches and decaying wood regularly.
3. Seal Cracks and Gaps in Your Home
Termites are tiny but resourceful. They can enter your home through the smallest cracks in the foundation, walls, or roof. It’s best to seal these gaps, which makes it harder for termites to invade.
Here’s how to guard your home from termites in the winter:
- Inspect your foundation for cracks and seal them with caulk or cement.
- Check doors and windows for gaps and use weatherstripping to seal them.
- Repair damaged screens on vents and windows.
- Install termite barriers (such as mesh screens or treated wood) in high-risk areas.
Preventing entry points is one of the best ways to stop termites before they become a bigger problem.
4. Use Termite Bait Stations
Termite bait stations are a proven way to eliminate termites over time. These stations attract termites with a food source laced with a slow-acting insecticide. Once termites carry the poison back to their colony, it spreads and eliminates more termites.
What you can do is:
- Place bait stations around your home’s perimeter near known termite activity.
- Check the stations regularly and replace the bait as needed.
- Be patient—baiting takes time, but it’s highly effective for long-term control.
This method works especially well for subterranean termites, which travel between their colony and food sources.
5. Remove and Replace Infested Wood
If termites have severely damaged wooden structures in your home, the best solution might be to remove and replace the affected wood. Leaving it in place could allow termites to continue spreading.
Some things you can do is:
- Inspect wooden beams, flooring, and furniture for termite damage.
- Replace severely damaged wood to eliminate hiding spots.
- Treat surrounding areas with termite-resistant coatings or sprays.
While this may seem drastic, replacing infested wood can stop termites from spreading further.
6. Schedule a Professional Termite Inspection
Since termites live and survive in cold weather, it’s increasingly hard to defeat them on your own. In that case, the best course of action is to call in the experts. A professional termite inspection can help detect infestations early and recommend the best treatment plan.
Here’s what to do:
- Hire a licensed pest control company in winter to inspect your home for termites.
- Ask about treatment options such as fumigation, bait systems, and soil treatments.
- Schedule ongoing termite control to catch infestations before they cause major damage.
Termites like cold weather, so getting an inspection during colder months is a smart move—especially if you’ve seen signs of termite activity.
No Season Is Termite-Proof—Take Action to Get Rid of These Harmful Pests
Termites don’t die in the winter. As we’ve described, they simply adapt to colder temperatures. While extreme cold can kill termites, they often find ways to survive—either by burrowing deeper into the ground or staying inside heated structures. If you suspect termites are present in your home or business, don’t wait to take action.
Do you need to get rid of termites in the winter? Preventive Pest Control can help. With over 20 years of experience, we provide expert termite solutions. Our services include preventive treatments and aftercare to keep your home termite-free. Home and business owners can select our monthly subscription plan with regular inspections and treatments, ensuring your property is safeguarded year-round. We proudly serve various locations, offering reliable Orange County pest control services and expert pest control in the Inland Empire. Contact us today for a free quote!