Termites in New Orleans
Formosan subterranean termites are an introduced species believed to have reached the United States, including New Orleans, on ships after World War II. They are established in the city, and a federal and state research program, Operation Full Stop, began working on them in the French Quarter in 1998. Extension and federal sources describe Formosan termites as among the most destructive termites, with very large colonies, and the City’s historic-district guidelines call termites one of the most insidious problems in the French Quarter.
Swarms are a late-spring and early-summer event here: sources we read give April through July, or May and June. For your own property, ask a licensed professional rather than relying on general accounts.
Signs to note
- Mud shelter tubes on foundation walls, piers, or in the crawl space. Tubes running up a pier are generally treated as a strong sign of activity. Tubes high on walls or soffits are associated with Formosan termites.
- Winged swarmers or shed wings, often near windows and light.
- Damaged wood, sometimes with galleries lined with soil, and sometimes with a thin shell of sound wood over hollow wood.
- Pinholes of dried mud, sunken lines under paint, sagging floors, or broken door frames can also be signs. Each of these has other possible causes.
5. Piers and bearing pointsVertical supports, commonly brick or masonry in older New Orleans homes, that pass the load to the footing and soil.
Termites tend to be found where wood meets the ground or masonry: piers, beams, sills and the lower ends of posts. Damage in any of these layers can show up as a sag higher in the house.
Simplified, not to scale, and not a diagnosis. Lattice skirting is cut away to show the piers. Select a layer to read what it does.
Why damage is often hidden
Termites can hollow out structural wood from the inside, leaving a surface that looks sound. Federal wood-science guidance describes galleries that follow the grain and leave a shell of sound wood, which is why professionals probe wood rather than judging it by eye. A building can also have hidden infestation after a clean visual inspection, so a clean-looking surface does not guarantee a building is free of termites.
Termite risk and rot risk rise in the same places. Wood on or next to a brick or concrete pier, wood close to the ground, poor drainage, and a crawl space without moisture control all raise the odds of both. Precautions against termites also help against decay.
Two different questions, two different professionals
| Question | Who answers it | What a report can include |
|---|---|---|
| Is there active termite infestation, what kind, and where? | A licensed pest control operator (Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Structural Pest Control) | The type of termite, the areas affected, the degree of damage that can be seen, entry points, and a treatment plan |
| Is the framing or foundation still sound, and what repair does it need? | A qualified contractor or structural engineer who can look at the structure | A written scope for each affected member, and sealed plans where required |
What happens to the structure
Treating termites does not rebuild a damaged beam, sill or post. Where wood has lost strength, it may need to be repaired or replaced, and the moisture that invited the termites needs attention too. For how beams and sills are handled, see beam and sill repair. For the signs of moisture damage, see structural wood rot. Structural changes to beams or foundations generally need a City permit; see structural repair permits.
You can find licensed pest control companies through the Department of Agriculture and Forestry, and check any structural contractor in the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors’ public search.
Sources (9)
- Mississippi State University Extension: Signs of Termite InfestationRead October 7, 2026
- USDA Forest Service, Wood Handbook ch. 14: Biodeterioration of WoodRead October 7, 2026
- University of Georgia CAES: Georgia initiative fights ferocious alien termite (2003)Read October 7, 2026
- USDA Agricultural Research Service: Operation Full Stop 2002 (archived)Read October 7, 2026
- City of New Orleans, Vieux Carre Commission Design Guidelines (termites section)Read October 7, 2026
- City of New Orleans, HDLC Design Guidelines (combined)Read October 7, 2026
- Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry: Structural Pest Control licensingRead October 7, 2026
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors: contractor searchRead October 7, 2026
- City of New Orleans: Renovation (Structural) / Elevation PermitRead October 7, 2026
Next step
If you found signs of termites
Call a licensed pest control professional first. If sagging floors, sticking doors or damaged supports are also part of the picture, describe them.
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