GLOSSARY · ADELAIDE
Frass
Plain English
Sand-like termite excreta or borer dust. The visible accumulation of timber pellets indicates active timber pest activity.
Different timber pests produce different frass. Drywood termites push pellets out of small holes in timber. Timber borers produce powdery dust at the base of attacked timber.
Frass piles below skirting boards, around door frames, or under furniture indicate active pest activity. The colour can hint at timber species being attacked.
Subterranean termites (Coptotermes) don't typically produce visible frass - they keep waste inside their galleries. So frass usually points to drywood termites or borers, not the more destructive Coptotermes.