The most obvious sign of termite infestation in a home is evidence of swarming indoors. In early spring, reproductive termites emerge from an underground nest, which can contain hundreds of thousands of insects. They fly around, land, discard their wings, mate and crawl back into the soil.

Carpenter ants — usually black and a quarter to a half inch long — can also pose a hazard. Because they also swarm, they are often mistaken for termites. But carpenter ants have a narrow, pinched waist, bent antennae and front wings that are longer than the back wings. In contrast, termites are the same width end to end, have straight antennae and four equal-size wings.

Powder-post beetles also damage wood. Some prefer hardwoods, making them more likely to damage flooring, molding and furniture. Others damage softwood, too. Signs of infestation are small round holes, ranging in size from a pinhead to a BB, with fine, flourlike wood powder coming out of them.

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