Although it's better to have termites in your yard rather than in your home, it may just be a short time before these pests start moving indoors. Regularly inspecting your yard for termites can help ensure you take care of the problem before the termites begin feasting on your home.

1. Termite Swarms

During a swarm, winged termites will leave the den or tunnels and swarm, often around light sources. Depending on the species, swarms can occur in the yard during the night or during daylight hours. Some varieties, like drywood termites, tend to swarm after a rainfall. If you don't notice a swarm, you may see the aftermath — piles of shed wings near the exterior of your home or out in your yard. If you find a swarm or the wings, then you may have termites in your yard. Schedule a treatment before the pests make their way into your home.

2. Mud Tubes

Examine any deadwood in your yard, including both natural deadwood like tree stumps and manmade objects like yard ornaments. If you notice small raised bumps, like a tube embedded into the wood, then you likely have termites feeding on that wood item. The tubes are made of a mud comprised of sawdust and other debris, so they are typically tan to dark brown in color. Termites build the tubes to cover their pathways over the wood and to block the sun. You need to remove the infested deadwood and have the yard treated promptly if you find mud tubes.

3. Dropping Piles

Some termites, like subterranean termites, use their droppings as a building material in their galleries so you may never see the waste they are creating. Others though, like drywood varieties, push the waste out of the tunnels. If you inspect your yard carefully, especially around areas where you already suspect a termite infestation, you may be able to find the piles of the black powdery substance that is termite scat. If you found a pile, then you have found the entrance to the nest. Call an exterminator to take care of the problem.

4. Hollow Wood

Check some of the wooden items around your yard. The most obvious place to start is with any stumps or deadwood, but check things like fence boards, wood garden borders, and even the exterior walls of your home or outbuilding. Start by rapping the wood with your knuckles. If it sounds hollow, termites could be eating the wood from the inside out. You can also apply gentle but firm pressure. If the wood starts to crumble, then termites or rot has been at work.

Contact a termite control company immediately if you suspect termites are on your property.