The termites I am acquainted with are very tiny, almost like sugar ants, and don't have wings. I would get another opinion. Usually there is a city/village department that covers this area in your community and will id these insect for you for free. If there are any universities in your area, there may be departments of entymology/biology there that have people that would recognize if these are termites or not. Actually, I have gotten a lot of great knowledge by telephoning the universities in my area when I have a special subject; they usually enjoy giving advice and talking about their subject.

Ranchland thanks for your help. I was was told by both exterminators that subterranean termites swarm and then lose there wings and go into the ground. I also did some research and found that to be true. So I know what they are. I just want to know how much damage could have been caused to the structure after 5 years. Because the one exterminator told me I need to hire someone in construction to open the walls because he could almost guaranty major damage. I just what to know was this a scare tactic to get my business. Or in 5 years could there be major structural damage.

Some termites do have wings. Subterranean termites live in the ground, and make those dirt tunnels across the concrete to the walls where they feed. Then when breeding time comes, there are certain termites in the group that grow wings, whose sole purpose is to fly out and start another colony. These winged breeder termites do not do the damage. They start a colony of normal (non-winged) termites, that are small (about 1/4 inch) and white. Their bodies have noticibly 2 parts - a head and body. These worker termites are what do the damage.

I hate termites, so I've read up on everything I could about them.

Unfortunately, if it's been 5 years since you found the breeders, and left them alone the whole time, there is probably significant damage. Could be walls, could be floor joists, could be rafters.

The easiest place to start looking is in your garage, if it is unfinished. The other place that's easy to see is your eaves, where your roof rafters overhang the side of your house. Next easiest place is your crawlspace or basement.

You can check for termites yourself, pretty easily. Take a pen (or something heavier like a dull ice pick) - anything sorta, but not particularly sharp - and go around to any studs or rafters you can reach, and stab them in a few spots. Do that to your whole house, going rafter to rafter stabbing them. Eventually you'll find one where the pen just seems to break right thru it, to an almost hollow 2x4. You'll be amazed how when you find a 5-year old termite damaged board, your pen goes right thru it. Don't worry about the little nicks you make while stabbing. The goal is to find places that are hollow, and you will know when you do. I learned all about this when I rented a house, so now I know what to look for in mine.

I'd suggest you cut into the drywall on the wall between your garage and house. That's a pretty inconspicuous wall, and you can do so near the bottom. Anywhere you have a concrete slab (like the garage) is MORE likely than the rest of the house to get the lil buggers.

If you call an inspector out, this is what they'll do. Even so, not a bad idea, for $150 to get an idea for how bad it is.

Hope that helps!
-mike.

My inspector would hit the wall and listen for any falling debri behind the wall. Also look at the soft wood they like it best. Window frames, molding, etc.
The have to have water so look around a/c drains, leaky pipes or were the rain water sits.
Good luck. I just spent about 4 grand repairing damage. Glad I new about it before I bought the house and had the owners treat the house and knock off for the repairs I was going to have done.

Don't know if you have it in your area, but some of the exterminating companies now use a termite detection dog. Supposedly this method is much better than the "knock and look" that is often used (assuming you don't want to tear all your walls open). Then you can simply open the area where the dog finds termites.

The downside to this is that the dog must be able to sniff all along your interior walls, which means you'll need to move all any furniture at least 3 ft way from the walls in each room.

I would start by opening up where you know they are (near the tubes). Then you can trace their path and keep opening as required until you get to good solid wood.