Drywood Termites: Facts, Identification and Control

Need to get rid of termites? Read on to learn the answers to all of your important questions. Need help? Call our professionals today to get started.

What Are Drywood Termites?

Drywood termites, as their name suggests, live, eat and form colonies in wood that has a very low moisture content. While subterranean termites need contact with soil to live, drywood termites do not. Unlike the subterranean and dampwood termite, drywood termites need less water to live. Because of this, drywood termites can do serious damage to your wood furniture.

Drywood termites live along the Southern border of the United States and along the Gulf of Mexico. They can be found from Northern California to Mexico, in the southern parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and all of Florida. Along the East coast, they can be found up to the coast of Virginia. 

Drywood termites live in small colonies in isolated pieces of wood. While their colonies are small, it is possible to have multiple colonies in the same piece of wood creating quite a large infestation. 

Signs of a Drywood Termite Infestation

Drywood termites stay hidden in whatever wooden material in which they live and feed, so seeing the termites themselves is quite rare. Sometimes the colony will release fecal pellets which can be a sign of an infestation. The other major sign of a drywood termite infestation occurs in late spring and summer when swarmers fly from their colonies looking to mate. These swarmer termites will be winged and will emerge in the evenings and night. They are attracted to lights including lights in your home such as the TV or lamps. 

What Do Drywood Termites Look Like?

Since drywood termites are notoriously elusive, it takes a lot of effort to actually see one. If you do come across a drywood termite, you can identify them by their typically brown color, though they can also be anywhere from dark brown to a light, yellowish tan. Alates, or the winged version of the termite, have wings that can appear anywhere from translucent to smoky gray in color. 

Call Pest Control Experts

The best way to determine if you have drywood termites is to have a pest care professional inspect your property. Pest control specialists have the appropriate knowledge and training to effectively discern which pests are your problem and your best mode of taking care of them completely. Don’t try to control termites on your own. Call a pest control specialist who can inspect your home and surroundings for termites. Call Pest Control Experts to take care of your termite problem today.