Frass is the solid excrement (fecal material) produced by various insects that feed on wood, foliage and other solid materials. Frass is produced in various shapes (Fig. 86), and moisture content varies with the diet. It is commonly produced in pellet form by various leaf-feeding caterpillars, sawflies and beetles, and the shape can be diagnostic of certain genera. The term is probably more widely used to describe excrement produced by various wood boring beetles and certain termites.
Frass, or excrement, can be of diagnostic value. Above is termite frass produced by subterranean termites; note that it has irregular edges and is dry. Middle image is moist frass produced by the blue cactus borer, and extruded from the tunnel by the larva; it is very moist. Bottom image is frass from drywood termites; it is produced in smooth-edged pellets and is very dry. (Termite frass photos by J.L. Castner, University of Florida; cactus borer frass photo by J.L. Capinera, University...
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Cranshaw, W. (2008). Frass. In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_3885
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