What are two common termite damage indicators found on wood?

• A. Gallery-like hollowed areas and blistering or cracking along wood surfaces, with possible mud tubes.
• B. Fresh paint chipping and rust stains on metal.
• C. Only the presence of visible fecal pellets.
• D. Moldy odor and soft ground soil near wood.

Answer: (A)

Termites leave clear signs of internal damage and protective passageways that show up on wood. When they tunnel through wood, they create gallery-like hollow areas inside, which often means the wood sounds hollow or feels weak when you tap it. At the same time, you may see blistering or cracking on the wood’s surface as the internal galleries push outward, and mud tubes marching up along the wood or nearby structure provide a telltale route from soil to food for subterranean termites.

Other signs listed aren’t as directly tied to termite activity: paint chipping and rust on metal point to weathering or corrosion, not termites; visible fecal pellets can indicate termites but don’t capture two indicators found on wood by themselves; and a moldy odor with soft soil nearby suggests moisture-related issues rather than the specific wood-damage pattern termites produce.