Drywood Termites
- Common Name: Drywood Termite
- Scientific Name: Various Species
Drywood Termites derive their name from their nesting habits. As opposed to Dampwood Termites who require damp or decaying wood, or Subterranean Termites nesting in the earth, Drywood Termites prefer dry wood with low moisture. This means they will show up in wood that is not in contact with the ground or any other moisture source. Also a helpful note on recognizing Drywood Termites, is they will not build mud tubes. Drywood Termite colonies are generally small in size, after four years they consist of somewhere between 70-700 individual termites. However a single structure can be infested by many colonies leading to a serious amount of damage.
Usually Drywood Termites do not swarm until the colony is around four years old, so if you see swarmers your problem has been around for some time and may require some concentrated effort to dislodge. However it is best to find infestations before they begin swarming which is essentially them beginning new colonies. If you suspect an infestation, check for piles of fecal pellets. they are less then 1mm in length with rounded ends.
To treat Drywood Termites, use a dust, or an aerosol to spot treat the infested area.