Quick facts
- Size
- Workers about 1/4 inch, swarmers about 3/8 inch with wings
- Looks like
- Pale, soft workers; dark swarmers with four equal wings
- Peak season
- Swarms April and May, feeding through fall
- Where in Michigan
- Mostly the southern Lower Peninsula
- Main risk
- Hidden structural damage to wood framing
- Risk level
- High
Signs you have termites
- Pencil-width mud tubes on foundation walls, piers or basement walls
- Swarms of small dark winged insects indoors in spring
- Piles of shed wings on window sills or the basement floor
- Wood that sounds hollow or crumbles, with soil packed inside
- Bubbling or sagging paint and drywall near the floor
- Damaged trim or sill plates in a damp basement
Where termites live in Michigan
Eastern subterranean termites are the termite species found in Michigan. Most activity is in the southern Lower Peninsula, including Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and the counties along the Indiana and Ohio lines. They are reported much less often as you move north and are rarely an issue in the Upper Peninsula.
The colder climate slows them down compared to southern states, but it does not stop them. Colonies live in the soil below the frost line and feed on wood in contact with soil, or reach wood through mud tubes. Heated basements and crawl spaces keep them active longer each year, and damage can go unnoticed behind finished basement walls.
Termite activity is often discovered during a home sale, when a buyer's lender or agent asks for a wood destroying insect inspection. If you are buying an older home in southern Michigan, especially one with a crawl space, porch slab or finished basement, that inspection is money well spent before closing.
Termite swarm season in Michigan
Mature colonies send out winged swarmers on warm days in spring, usually April and May, often right after a rain. If you see them inside, they are coming from a colony that already has access to your home. Swarmers die within hours and do not damage anything themselves, but they are a clear warning sign that should not be ignored.
Termite swarmers are often confused with flying ants. Termites have a straight, thick waist, straight antennae and four wings of the same length that break off easily. Ants have a pinched waist and elbowed antennae. Our carpenter ant guide has more on the differences. Save a few in a sealed bag for the inspector.
Termite treatment options
Liquid soil treatments create a treated zone around the foundation, applied by trenching along the outside and drilling through slabs, garage floors or porches. Bait systems use stations set in the ground that termites feed on and carry back to the colony, with regular monitoring visits. Both can work well. Your home's construction often decides which makes more sense.
In Michigan, people who apply pesticides commercially must be certified through the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The category for termite work is 7B, wood destroying organisms. Ask for a written inspection report with a diagram of findings, the product to be used, and the warranty terms before you sign.
Do not try to treat termites with a spray from the hardware store. Spraying the swarmers or a mud tube kills a handful of termites and does nothing to the colony underground, and breaking tubes without treatment only hides the evidence an inspector needs to see. Leave the tubes in place until the inspection.
What you can do yourself
- 1Keep firewood, lumber and deep mulch away from the foundation.
- 2Fix gutters and downspouts so water drains away from the house.
- 3Remove wood in contact with soil, such as old form boards and stumps near the home.
- 4Keep a gap between soil and wood siding or sill plates.
- 5Check basement walls and piers for mud tubes once or twice a year.
- 6Save a few swarmers in a sealed bag or jar for identification.
When to call a licensed pro
- You find mud tubes or termite swarmers indoors.
- You are buying or selling a home in southern Michigan.
- You see wood damage with soil packed inside.
- You want a bait monitoring system installed.
What termites treatment costs in Michigan
$1,200 to $3,500per home
These are typical Michigan ranges, not quotes. Price depends on the linear feet of foundation, the slabs or porches that need drilling, and whether you choose a liquid treatment or a bait system with ongoing monitoring.
Typical ranges, not quotes. See the full Michigan pest control cost guide.
Termites: common questions
Are termites common in Michigan?
They are common enough in the southern Lower Peninsula that wood destroying insect inspections are routine during home sales. They are less common in the northern Lower Peninsula and rarely reported in the Upper Peninsula.
When do termites swarm in Michigan?
Usually on warm days in April and May, often after rain. Indoor swarms can happen earlier in heated basements. Check the pest calendar for what else is active that time of year.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Most policies do not, because insurers usually treat termite damage as a maintenance issue that could have been prevented. Check your own policy and ask your agent, and keep records of any inspections or treatments you have done.
How long does termite treatment last?
Liquid treatments are often expected to last several years, depending on the product, soil and any later digging around the foundation. Bait systems need ongoing monitoring. Many companies offer a renewable warranty, so read what it covers, repairs or just retreatment.
Can I get a termite inspection?
Yes. Licensed companies offer wood destroying insect inspections for homeowners and real estate deals, usually with a written report. A licensed local company can inspect and explain your options; you can request a quote.