What kind of termites are there

Dampwood termites are found in Pacific coastal and adjacent states, the desert or semi-arid southwest, and southern Florida. Drywood termites infest dry wood and do not require contact with the soil, unlike the subterranean and Formosan termites. This termite species often establishes nests in roof materials and wooden wall supports and can infest dead wood that may be around homes. Drywood termites are found in the southern tier states, from North Carolina through the Gulf Coast and into the coastal areas of California.

Conehead termites are an invasive species native to the Caribbean. They were first introduced to the U. Originally called "tree termites," they were renamed conehead termites to alleviate the misconception that this pest is only found in trees. Though the species was believed to been eradicated in the U. Unlike most termites, the conehead termite does not rely on underground tunneling to travel.

Instead, they forage on the ground like ants, allowing them to spread quickly. One way to tell if the wood in your home has been infested by subterranean termites is by the appearance of the holes on the damaged wood that appear like a honeycomb. Subterranean termites are commonly divided into 4 groups in order to easily identify them. There are six main categories or species of subterranean termites that are commonly found in the United States.

These termites usually attack types of greasewood and creosote although they do resort to attacking structures when their natural wood sources are inaccessible or are removed. Some common signs that indicate infestation by arid-land termites include piles of shed wings often near windows and doors, mud tubes in houses that have peeling paint and swarming termites.

They are normally very small in size and can easily thrive in dry conditions. The survival of desert subterranean termites largely depends on food sources like structural timbers in houses, utility poles and woody plants like cactus. Their colonies are usually massive, often containing more than , members. These termites also build mud tubes for protection and prefer to search for food in moist soils and areas with shades soils. Common infestation signs of these termites include the sudden appearance of swarming termites and mud tubes.

They usually attack varieties of softwood that leaves a honeycombed print, and the damaged wood often contains a hollow section filled with mud. They are also quite popular for their destructive habits, and their feeding abilities are so dangerous that it can seriously weaken building structures, causing the entire framing to collapse. Typical infestation signs include the presence of mud tubes and shed wings usually near windows, doors, and sources of light. Commonly found in the East Coast regions of New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, Connecticut, Maryland, and Rhodes Island, this dark southeastern subterranean species of termites is a one-third inch long and usually has a dark brown or black body.

These termites like to feed on plywood , pine wood and structural lumber for survival. Common infestation signs include honeycombed damaged wood, partially digested wood and presence of their typical mud tubes.

These termite species are found in Nevada, California, and Washington. Interestingly, these termites are not picky food-eaters and usually eat decayed wood, fallen trees, and stumps. However, they do have quite a peculiar feeding system. Termites can usually be identified by their cream-colored, segmented bodies which blend in with the grains of wood, camouflaging them perfectly within the grains. Despite the fact that Formosan termites are a type of subterranean termite aka thy like to live in the ground originating from Asia and brought to the US during World War II, they looking more like crawling lava.

Formosan termites are characterized by their loud, orange bodies , easily seen in soil and on wooden surfaces. Traditional subterranean termites have more brownish bodies and lack the small hairlike follicles on the Formosan termite. The mention of this type of insect is incredibly unnerving to some coastal property owners, and for good reason: once a colony of Formosan termites has taken up residence in an area, there has been no record of one ever successfully being eradicated.

This is because the make long tunnels between colony positions. Further, they don't actually have to live in the soil. Once the find a plentiful food source, it is possible that the termites will leave the safe and moist soil and carve out a new nest in its above ground home. These nests are sometimes referred to as "cartons" due to their appearance. Formosan termites are just harder to eliminate because they don't always live in soil. This drastically reduces the treatment options pest control professionals can refer to making their infestations more difficult and costly.

Though subterranean termites are spread throughout the continental USA and the Formosan termites is a type of subterranean termite , the Formosan termite is limited to only a handful of states.

If your site isn't listed it should give you some level of comfort, but always consult a local exterminator about your specific neighborhood and ask about preventative treatment options. Sure, some termites are less destructive than others, but at the end of the day, they all have the same objective: to eat you out of house and home If you notice the warning signs of termites in your house, don't panic!

Here at Pest Strategies, we want you to equip you with all the knowledge necessary to make smart decisions about how to handle your pest problems before they get out of hand. When you know what kind of termite you've got, you know exactly what termite control methods to take, and how soon to act.

Curious about other termite related guides? Check out our other detailed guides to help you deal with your pest problems. Because pest control products can be dangerous to your family if mishandled, we always recommend consulting with an exterminator even if just to ask for advice on how to apply pest control products yourself.

Below are our top 3 picks based on that review for pest removal. They enter your home via wood that touches the soil or by traveling from the ground to a wood source through mud tubes. They then make their way inside through unsealed joints and cracks. Once inside, they build intricate mud nests inside the structure walls. Signs of Formosan termites include the presence of swarming termites , discarded wings, and damage to wood, which is often discovered during home renovations.

As Formosan termites eat wood, they leave behind smooth sided galleries and cause walls to sag. These termites belong to the Kalotermitidae family and are mostly found in the southern states. These termites establish their nests in roof materials and wooden wall supports, as well as dead wood found around your home. They can also live in dead trees, structural timbers and even hardwood floors. Their colonies tend to be smaller with only several thousand members versus millions in subterranean colonies.

Signs of drywood termites include discarded wings, dead swarmers, and the appearance of frass hexagonal fecal pellets that pile up under the wood they infest. Dampwood termites come from two families: Kalotermitidae and Hodotermitidae. Dampwood termites are rarely found in homes or other manmade structures because the wood in these areas have a low moisture content. These high moisture requirements make these termites less common than other species.

They are often found in wooded areas and rotting tree stumps.