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• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Examining the termite
• Method 2 of 3: Check for termite larvae
• Method 3 of 3: Differentiate between termite larvae and other insects
• Tips

Termites can pose a serious risk to the skeleton of your home. The presence of larvae in particular can indicate that the building is contaminated. Termite larvae can be identified by their shape, color and size. Usually they can be found with the workers, deep in the center of a termite colony. That said, they can be confused with other insects, so it is important to understand the properties and qualities of this pest.

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Method 1 of 3: Examining the termite

1. Inspect the shape. Larvae have soft bodies instead of a hard shell. They have a recognizable head and 6 legs. Their feelers are straight.
   • Termite larvae generally look very much like workers and nymphs, except for their size. Larvae are much smaller than workers and nymphs.
   • Termites can look like ants, but where ants 'bodies have a narrow waist, termites' bodies are smooth and straight. Termites also have straight antennae, while those of ants are curved.
2. Examine the color. Termite larvae are usually white and almost transparent. Keep in mind that an old worker or nymph can be a similar color, so you cannot identify a larva by color alone.
   • If the termite has a pale, white body, but a darker head, then it may be a soldier. This is an adult termite.
   • If the termite is a darker color, such as brown or black, it may be a dust louse or ant. If it has wings, it may be a reproductive termite.
3. Measure them. Most termite larvae are less than 2.5mm in length. In comparison, an adult termite is approximately 6.4mm long. Some reproducing termites can grow as long as 13mm, but if the insect is larger than this, it may not be a termite at all.
   • Termite larvae are about the same size as the egg they hatched from. The eggs are very small and white. They can be difficult to find because they are kept deep in the colony. If you do find some termites near a pile of eggs, you can compare the size. If they are about the same size, you have found larvae.

Method 2 of 3: Check for termite larvae

1. Identify adult termites. If you find adult termites, there are probably larvae somewhere in the colony. While there are a number of different types of adult termites, you can usually identify them from their pale, soft bodies. Workers and nymphs look like larger versions of the larvae, while soldiers have a dark, harder head. Only reproductive termites have wings.
2. Inspect areas where termites live. While you may need a professional to find most termites, you can do a basic inspection yourself if you see any signs of infestation. Start by inspecting your windowsills, window frames and doorposts, support beams, and areas where concrete structures meet with wood parts. Also check in the basement, crawl spaces and under your patio. Use a flashlight to check between cracks and in dark areas.
   • Be aware that termites often live deep in walls, and they can live in a house for years without being noticed. Just because there aren't any external signs of termites doesn't mean they aren't there.
3. Listen to the walls. Use a screwdriver to gently tap the wood or surface of a wall. Listen for hollow or rustling noises in the wood. This can indicate that something is living in the wood.
4. Break open mud tubes. Termites can build mud tubes to travel between different parts of the colony. They can look like twigs or strips of mud on the wall or foundation. You can break one open to see if it contains termites. Be aware that if a tube is empty, there could still be termites elsewhere in the building.
5. Hire pest control. Termites live deep within a structure and usually keep their larvae in the most protected part of their nest. To determine the scope of the problem, you should consult a professional pest control company. They can tell you if you have termites or some other infestation. They can also identify larvae for you.
   • When in doubt, it's best to catch a few larvae or insects in a jar to help identify them. Take them to the pest control or a local insect expert.

Method 3 of 3: Differentiate between termite larvae and other insects

1. Compare the larvae of ants and grubs. When they are adults, ants and termites can be confused. However, the larvae of the two species are very different. If you are unsure whether you have termites or ants, try to inspect the larvae if you can find them.
   • Termite larvae look like a smaller version of adult workers and nymphs; they have separate, segmented heads, legs and antennae.
   • Ant larvae look like beetle larvae. They have no legs or eyes and have no recognizable head. They are also covered with small hairs.
2. Learn to spot dust lice. Dust lice, like termites, are small and white. However, dust lice grow to only 1.6-3.2 mm in length. They do not eat wood, but the fungus that grows on wood, books and other starchy objects in moist environments.
   • If there is no damage to the wood and no other signs of termites, then you may have dust lice instead of termite larvae. To be sure, you can take a number of insects to the pest control for identification.
   • Places where dust lice are found include books, newspapers, moldy food and grains, old wallpaper, cardboard boxes, and other paper products. Termites, on the other hand, are found in walls, wood piles, stumps, crawl spaces, and other areas of wood.
3. Determine if the damage to the wood was not caused by beetles. Termites aren't the only insects that eat wood. Wood beetles look very different from termites. They have dark, hard bodies and some may be covered with fine hair. Wood beetle larvae are white and C-shaped. They have small spines on their back.
   • The best way to find out if you have wood beetles or termites is to hire the pest control. They may be able to identify the pest based on the pattern of damage that has been done.
4. Make sure they are not maggots. Maggots are a different kind of larvae, but these become flies instead of termites. Like termite larvae, maggots are white and their body is soft. However, unlike termite larvae, maggots do not have a recognizable head, or if it does, it is not visible. They may have legs, but the rest of their body is tubular.
   • Maggots are usually found in decaying material, such as old food and decomposing plants.

Tips

• Termite larvae will starve if the workers feeding them are killed. The pest control may be able to help get rid of the larvae by eradicating the colony.
• Roundworms are parasites that are harmless to humans but feed on termite larvae. You may be able to get rid of the larvae by spraying roundworms on the affected areas.
• If you found adult termites, larvae are likely to be present somewhere deep in the center of the colony or structure.
• If you have found termite larvae, you will need to take steps to eradicate the colony. Call the pest control for help.