What Are Drywood Termites?

••Termite Control,

Drywood termites are found in southern and western states, where winters tend to not reach below freezing temperatures. Though native to these states, it is not unheard of that drywood termites can be unknowingly transported in wooden furniture that is infested. Termites are social insects, meaning they live in colonies. While drywood termites are larger in stature than other species, their colonies remain relatively small. In comparison to subterranean termite species whose colonies can house up to a million individuals, the largest drywood termite colony discovered to date had only about 5,000 inhabitants.

 

How Drywood Termites Are Different From Other Types Of Termites

They spend the entirety of their lives inside wood

Drywood termites do not require contact with soil or any other form of moisture, which makes discovering infestations particularly challenging. This also means that treating the soil under or around the structure will not protect against them. Additionally, baiting systems will also not protect you against damage, as they rarely leave the safety of the colony.

They expel feces in pellets

Drywood termites construct round “kick-holes” that serve as elimination tunnels for fecal pellets, called “frass.” Other species of termites expel liquid feces. Since drywood termites do not require constant contact with moisture for survival, they preserve all liquid they intake; resulting in frass to be hard pellets instead. Hard pelletized frass is unique to drywood termites, making the presence of such the telltale sign of an infestation of this specific species.

They cut across the wood grain

Galleries (tunnels) in the wood made by drywood termites, cut across the grain of the wood. This damages the internal structure of the wood by extensively weakening it, compromising stability. Galleries made by the subterranean species follow the grain, and wood of less density is attacked first. Damaged wood will have a dull or hollow sound when tapped.

They have small colonies

As mentioned above, drywood termites live in small colonies. They take longer to become a full-size colony, which means the potential for structural damage is less over a given period of time. That being said, the way drywood termites tunnel coupled with the difficulty of detecting them, can lead to substantial damage if your home goes unchecked.

How To Get Rid Of Drywood Termites

Termites are responsible for causing an estimated billion dollars worth of damage in U.S. homes annually. Typically, termite infestation damage is not covered by home insurance companies. If you suspect you might have a drywood termite issue, contact us for a free home inspection. It’s important to have inspections done by professionals, termite detection and removal is not a good DIY experiment. If it turns out you do have a drywood termite issue in your home, don’t panic. We’re here to help.

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About The Author

Joe Dingwall

Joe Dingwall is the president of Catseye Pest Control, a family-owned business that has been delivering quality pest control solutions to properties across the Northeast since 1987. With almost a decade of experience in the pest control industry, Joe is an expert in delivering effective pest and nuisance wildlife management solutions for homes and businesses.

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