Signs You Have Termites in Your Long Island Home
You have termites in your Long Island home if you see pencil-thin mud tubes running up foundation walls, discarded wings on window sills in April or May, hollow-sounding wood along sills and door frames, or clouds of small dark winged insects swarming against sunny windows. Eastern subterranean termites are the dominant species across Nassau and Suffolk County and enter homes from the soil, favoring damp basement corners, crawl spaces, and porch supports. Older Nassau homes with concrete slab additions and Suffolk homes on high-water-table lots are especially exposed. Any visible mud tube on a foundation wall is a strong signal of an active colony and warrants immediate inspection.
How Bobby Bugs Treats Termites
Bobby Bugs treats termites on Long Island with a free inspection, a clear scope of work, and either a targeted partial treatment or a full perimeter liquid or bait system. Expect a written 1-year guarantee on partial work or 2-year guarantee on full treatments.
- 1Free on-site inspection: mud tube mapping, moisture readings, and swarm evidence.
- 2Written estimate that specifies partial versus full scope and guarantee length.
- 3Trenching, drilling, or bait station installation depending on scope.
- 4Application of a labeled non-repellent termiticide or installation of an in-ground bait system.
- 5Written 1-year (partial) or 2-year (full) guarantee.
- 6Optional annual inspection service to keep the guarantee current beyond the initial term.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Termites?
Most Long Island termite treatments are completed in one to two visits. Liquid barrier work is done in a single day for a typical house and creates a continuous protection zone immediately, while in-ground bait station systems begin working within weeks and eliminate colonies over 3 to 6 months. Swarming stops quickly after treatment. The 1-year partial or 2-year full guarantee runs from the treatment date and covers reactivation inside that window.
How to Keep Termites From Coming Back
To keep eastern subterranean termites away from a Long Island house, break the contact between soil and wood and keep the ground near the foundation dry. Penn State entomologists recommend keeping wood at least 18 inches above soil where possible and using pressure-treated lumber where contact can't be avoided, so replace wooden posts, steps and trellises that sit in the ground, and don't let deck framing, siding or door trim run down into the soil or mulch. Grade the ground so it slopes away from the foundation, keep gutters and downspouts working, and fix basement and crawlspace drainage, since termites need moisture. Move firewood, lumber and wood debris away from the house, and seal cracks in the foundation with concrete or caulk. Check the foundation, sills and basement walls every spring for mud tubes, and watch for swarms of winged termites near windows from March through June. None of that guarantees a house won't get termites, which is why treatment carries a written guarantee and prevention doesn't.
Where we see termites most on Long Island
- Levittown
1947 to 1951 slab capes with sills and additions at grade, the single most common termite house on Long Island.
- Westbury
Postwar capes and splits with sixty-year-old slab and block foundations.
- Mineola
Prewar and early postwar houses on sandy Hempstead Plains soil.
- Deer Park
1950s and 1960s capes and ranches with slab additions and decks near the soil.
- Holbrook
High-ranch lower levels that sit close to grade on sandy ground.
- Baldwin
Prewar colonials and capes near Grand Avenue on ground that stays damp by the creeks.
- Setauket
Hand-hewn sills on fieldstone at grade near the harbor.
- Sayville
Victorian and prewar houses with original sills and porch posts near the soil.
Related reading
More resources
- Visit our full services list.
- See every area we serve across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and The Bronx.
- See our termite inspection page.
- See our carpenter ant treatment page.
- Guide: How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost on Long Island? What Sets the Price.
How Much Does Termite Treatment Cost on Long Island?
Termite treatment cost on Long Island is driven mostly by linear footage: how many feet of foundation need treatment. A full liquid termiticide barrier around a whole house is a bigger job than a localized treatment at one mud tube in a Brentwood garage. Construction type matters too, since slabs, crawlspaces, and finished basements each change the drilling and application time. Baiting systems price differently from liquid barriers, and we explain both after a free inspection. Bobby Bugs gives you a free written quote before any work begins, and the number on the invoice matches the quote. Every termite treatment includes a written guarantee: 1 year on partial treatments and 2 years on full perimeter treatments.
What customers say
Let me express my appreciation to Bobby Bugs for their prompt and courteous response to my termite issue. They resolved the entire problem and the process and communication was outstanding. I would recommend Bobby Bugs to anyone that I know!
So glad we called Bobby Bugs!! We found termite damage in our basement and honestly had no idea how bad it was. Bobby took his time looking everything over and explained the treatment in a way I could actually understand. I had a million questions and he was patient with all of them. Such a relief to finally have it handled. Thank you, Bobby!
They sent out Willy one of their technicians to our property and he was super nice, great guy and knows his stuff. They did a whole termite inspection and extermination and it was flawless. For sure will be using them again for anything i need the future. Thank you guys
Reviewed October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of termites?
First signs of termites on Long Island include pencil-thin mud tubes on foundation walls and pier posts, discarded wings on window sills in April and May, and wood that sounds hollow when tapped. Bubbling or blistering paint on trim is another common tell. A free inspection confirms live activity.
When do termites swarm on Long Island?
Eastern subterranean termites swarm on Long Island most often in April and May, especially on the first warm day after rain. You will see clouds of small dark winged insects near the foundation or against sunny windows indoors. Discarded wings collecting on sills are usually the clearest evidence of a swarm.
What is the difference between a partial and full termite treatment?
A partial termite treatment addresses one clearly defined active area, such as a single wall or an attached porch, and carries a 1-year written guarantee. A full treatment addresses the entire foundation perimeter with a continuous liquid barrier or a full bait station system and carries a 2-year written guarantee.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Almost never. Standard homeowners policies exclude termite damage on Long Island because it is considered a preventable maintenance issue. That is why the smart move financially is a free inspection or written estimate at the first sign of mud tubes or swarmers, long before framing or subfloor repair is on the table.
Do you use liquid treatment or bait stations?
It depends on the house. A liquid termiticide barrier in the soil around the foundation is the standard for most Long Island homes. Bait stations are the better choice where drilling and trenching aren't practical or where the water table is high, which Penn State notes is a reason to prefer baits. We explain which one we recommend and why at the estimate.
I saw swarmers in April. Does that mean I have termites in the house?
Swarmers inside the house, or piles of shed wings on a windowsill, almost always mean a colony in or under the house. Swarmers outside in the yard mean a colony nearby, which is common on Long Island and worth an inspection but not proof the house is infested. Either way, a free estimate settles it.