Newton’s character comes from its history. Thirteen distinct villages and a housing stock where more than half of all structures were built before 1940 (U.S. Census). That history is exactly what makes Newton one of the higher-risk communities for eastern subterranean termite activity in Eastern Massachusetts.
Older wood-frame construction, such as balloon framing, unfinished crawl spaces, fieldstone foundations, creates the conditions termites exploit. Eastern subterranean termites live underground and enter homes through cracks in foundations and wood-to-soil contact. By the time mud tubes or discarded wings are visible, structural feeding has typically been underway for some time. This is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to inspect.