Termites

Overview

Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in property damage in the United States every year — damage that is typically not covered by homeowners insurance. The most common and destructive species are subterranean termites (Reticulitermes spp. and Coptotermes formosanus — the Formosan termite). Drywood termites (Cryptotermes and Incisitermes spp.) are significant pests in southern coastal states. Unlike carpenter ants, termites actually consume wood, feeding on the cellulose within it.

Identification

• Workers: creamy white, soft-bodied, 3–5 mm, rarely seen in the open
• Soldiers: larger head with mandibles, creamy body, defend the colony
• Swarmers (reproductives): dark brown to black, 8–10 mm with two pairs of equal-length wings
• Subterranean termites require ground contact or moisture; build mud tubes for travel
• Drywood termites live entirely within wood; no ground contact needed

Behavior & Habitat

Termites live in large colonies that can number from thousands to millions. Subterranean termites build their main colony underground and construct mud tubes (pencil-width tunnels of soil and saliva) to reach wood above ground while maintaining moisture. They can consume wood 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Drywood termites infest dry, sound wood and create small kick-out holes to push out frass (wood-colored pellets). Swarming typically occurs in spring or fall.

Signs of Infestation

• Mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, or pipes (subterranean termites)
• Frass — small, wood-colored hexagonal pellets below infested wood (drywood termites)
• Discarded wings near windows or doors after swarming events
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
• Buckling paint, sagging floors, or doors/windows that stick without other cause

Prevention Tips

• Eliminate wood-to-ground contact around the home
• Maintain at least 6 inches between soil and wood siding or framing
• Fix all plumbing and roof leaks promptly — moisture attracts subterranean termites
• Ensure proper drainage away from the foundation
• Do not stack firewood or lumber against the house

Professional Treatment

Professional termite control is essential. For subterranean termites, liquid soil treatments (termiticides) create a continuous barrier around the foundation. Bait station systems use slow-acting toxicants that workers carry back to the colony, eventually eliminating the queen. For drywood termites, localized treatments (foam or injectable termiticides) or whole-structure fumigation may be necessary. Annual inspections are strongly recommended.