Drywood Termites – Center Termite and Pest Control

About Drywood Termites

Inspection should be completed by a licensed pest control operator
Discovery of droppings inside
Discovery of wings inside
Presence outside is a natural phenomenon and is not an indication of home infestation

	Droppings Drywood termites produce characteristic fecal pellets (droppings) Pellets are released through “kick holes” that drywood termites construct The pellets tend to accumulate on surfaces located below the kick holes and are usually the first evidence of a drywood termite infestation Hard Rounded ends Six flattened or concavely depressed sides with ridges Light tan in color with some black mixed in
	Swarmer Reproductive Vary in body color from dark brown to light yellowish-tan Wings are clear to smoke gray and have distinvtive veins Swarming occurs usually at dusk or during the night Swarers tend to fly towards areas of light Swarms occur due to environmental conditions Swarmers fly to start new colonies
	Wings The discovery of drywood termite wings is another sign of infestation The presence of wings or live termites outside a home is a natural phenomenon and is not an implication of a home being infested When a pair of swarmers unite, they shed their wings and immediately attempt to enter the wood
	Drywood Termite Damage Drywood termites infest and area until it has been completely consumed Drywood termites eat across the grain of the wood which creates chambers and galleries for them to inhabit If homes are not properly treated and maintained, damages can run into the thousands of dollars

Belong to Kalotermitidae family
Soldiers and the alates are the only types of termites that can be accurately identified.
Drywoods are easier to control than subterranean because drywood termite infestations are limited to a single piece of wood or wood item.
Colonies can contain up to about 2,000 termites
Colony development is slow but severe structural damage may be caused by multiple colonies
Severe damage may be caused by multiple colonies
Most colonies remain small but multiple colonies can be in the same piece of wood which may contain up to 10,000 individuals.
Colonies grow through the queen’s increased egg production and the accumulation of long-lived individuals
After 3-4 years, colonies may consist of up to 1,000 members
After about 10-15 years, colony members can be over 3,000!
Infest wooden framing and studs of homes
The first swarm is after the colony is approximately four years old
Have alates class – flying termites

Vary in body color from dark brown to light yellowish tan

Wings are clear to smoke gray and have distinctive veins

Swarms occur due to environmental conditions

Swarmers usually number in the dozens, occasionally hundreds

Fly in high numbers from mature colonies at certain times of the year
In a swarm, the alates find mates and search for dead wood to start another colony
Only a small number of swarmers survive to develop colonies
Swarmers enter through small cracks or exposed end grain
A very small nest develops after the pair has mated

These are the new king and queen

Immatures will hatch within several weeks and then shortly after, they assume the role of the workers
As the queen matures, she will be able to lay more eggs
The new colony will stabilize when a queen reaches maximum egg production
Colonies are started in dead wood in which there isn’t a water source
Drywood termites but either get water though extracting water from which they feed or from their environment
They have the ability to produce water internally during the digestive process
Live in wood with less than 12% of moisture (hence the name drywood termite)
Termites can be distributed by people who move infested furniture or infested wood.
On occasion, new wood material is installed with termites already infesting.
Drywoods live within their food

Eat across the wood grain and create chambers connected by tunnels

Tunnels are smooth with the presence of fecal pellets

Live within their food source

Make kick out holes so they can remove their waste

• Pellets are hard, elongate oval with rounded ends

• Six concave sides

• Homeowners usually notice the pilings of the waste under the kick out holes

Homeowner should pay particular attention to windows, door frames, and moldings on the interior
On the exterior, any areas that have chipped paint, cracks and seams, or areas that have a high concentration of moisture.

Stored lumber

Firewood

Scrap lumber

Dead trees

Woody shrubbery

Before painting, seal any cracks, crevices and joints with wood putty.

Ag.arizona.edu
Alabama A&M & Auburn Universities – Journal #ANR1170
www.aces.edu/pubs
www.termite.com/termites/california.html