Termites can do serious structural damage long before anyone sees them. In South Jersey the culprit is the eastern subterranean termite, a species that nests in the soil and travels into homes through mud tubes to feed on wood. New Jersey falls in what the industry rates a moderate-to-heavy termite zone, and the farmhouses, crawlspaces, wood porches, and sill plates found all over Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties give termites plenty to work with.
Signs of Termites in Your Home
- Swarmers: Winged insects gathering at windows, doors, or light fixtures, or little piles of shed wings on sills and floors.
- Mud tubes: Pencil-width tunnels of soil running up foundation walls, piers, crawlspace walls, or basement sill plates.
- Damaged wood: Trim or floors that sound hollow, feel soft, or crumble, and paint that bubbles or blisters for no clear reason.
- High-risk conditions: Wood touching soil, mulch piled against the foundation, firewood stacked by the house, and damp crawlspaces.
Termite swarmers are easy to mistake for flying ants. Termites have straight antennae, a thick waist, and two pairs of wings that are the same length. Ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist, and front wings longer than the back pair.
Termite Season in South Jersey
Most homeowners first notice termites in spring, when mature colonies send out swarmers to start new colonies. In New Jersey that typically happens from late March into early June, usually on a warm day right after rain, and the southern coastal plain tends to see flights earlier than the north. Swarms can also appear in winter inside heated buildings. According to Rutgers, it takes several years for a colony to mature enough to swarm, so swarmers in or near the house mean an established colony is close by. The swarm lasts a day; the colony keeps feeding out of sight long after.
How Ed Handles Termites
Ed starts with a full inspection: the outside of the foundation, the crawlspace or basement, sill plates, garages, porches, decks, and the spots where an addition meets the original house. He looks for mud tubes, damaged wood, moisture problems, and wood-to-soil contact, and he confirms whether you’re actually dealing with termites rather than carpenter ants or water damage.
If termites are active, Ed recommends a treatment that fits the building and the activity he finds. That may be a liquid termiticide applied to the soil around and under the foundation, a bait station system, targeted treatment of affected wood, or a combination. Everything is done with careful application.
What to Expect
You’ll talk to Ed directly when you call. He schedules the inspection, walks the property, and then explains what he found in plain English, including showing you tubes or damage. You get a clear recommendation and a quote before any work begins. If what you saw turns out not to be termites, he’ll tell you that, too.
Why Zero Pests
Zero Pests is a veteran-owned South Jersey company founded in 2025. Ed Newton brings more than 23 years of hands-on pest control experience, including years with major national companies, and holds New Jersey pesticide license #92354B. No call center, just eco-friendly products and honest advice. We inspect older homes regularly in Mullica Hill, Salem, Woodstown & Pilesgrove, and Bridgeton, where historic frame construction and crawlspaces are common.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are those flying ants or termites?
Check the antennae, waist, and wings. Termites have straight antennae, a thick waist, and equal-length wings. If you’re not sure, save a few in a sealed bag and call us; Ed can identify them.
Does seeing swarmers mean my house is damaged?
Not necessarily, but it does mean a mature colony is nearby. Swarmers don’t eat wood themselves. An inspection will show whether termites are feeding on your home and how far it has gone.
Do you do real-estate (WDI) termite inspections?
Our termite inspections are for homeowners who want to know whether they have termites and what to do about it. If you need a formal wood-destroying insect report for a sale or lender, ask when you call and we’ll tell you straight what we can and can’t provide.
How can I make my home less attractive to termites?
Keep mulch and soil pulled back from siding, store firewood away from the house, fix leaks and drainage problems, and keep crawlspaces dry. Ed will point out specific risks during the inspection.
Schedule a Termite Inspection
Seen swarmers, mud tubes, or soft wood? Call Ed at 856-599-9376 for a free quote or inspection. We’re available Monday through Saturday, 8 AM to 6 PM, serving Salem, Gloucester, and Cumberland counties.