Termites In North Texas

Subterranean Termite

• Species:
• Subterranean termites belong to the family Rhinotermitidae.
• Common species include the Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes), Western subterranean termite (Reticulitermes hesperus), and Formosan subterranean termite (Coptotermes formosanus).
• Habitat:
• These termites live in underground colonies, often located in soil, wood, or other cellulose-rich materials.
• They construct mud tubes or shelter tubes to connect their colonies to food sources, providing protection from predators and maintaining a humid environment.
• Diet:
• Subterranean termites feed on wood, paper, cardboard, and other cellulose materials.
• Their feeding can cause significant damage to structures, including homes, wooden furniture, and other wooden components.
• Colonies:
• Subterranean termite colonies consist of three primary castes: workers, soldiers, and reproductives (alates or swarmers).
• Workers are responsible for foraging, feeding, and building tunnels.
• Soldiers defend the colony against predators, mainly ants.
• Alates are winged termites that leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies.
• Reproduction:
• Termite colonies produce alates during specific times of the year, and these winged reproductives engage in swarming behavior.
• After mating, alates shed their wings and form new colonies.
• Mud Tunnels:
• Subterranean termites construct mud tubes, also known as shelter tubes, to protect themselves while foraging for food above ground.
• These tubes may be found along foundation walls, in crawl spaces, or other areas with wood-to-soil contact.
• Damage:
• Subterranean termites cause extensive damage to structures by consuming wood and weakening the integrity of wooden components.
• Damage often goes unnoticed until it becomes severe, as termites feed from the inside out.

Drywood Termite

• Species:
• Drywood termites belong to the family Kalotermitidae.
• Common species include the Western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor) and the Southeastern drywood termite (Incisitermes snyderi).
• Habitat:
• Drywood termites infest dry, sound wood, including structural timber, furniture, and other wooden items.
• They do not require contact with the soil, making them capable of infesting both above-ground and below-ground wooden structures.
• Colonies:
• Drywood termite colonies are smaller compared to subterranean termite colonies.
• The colony is typically located entirely within the wood they infest.
• Feeding and Damage:
• Drywood termites feed on the cellulose found in wood, extracting nutrients and causing structural damage.
• Their feeding creates galleries and tunnels within the wood, weakening its integrity over time.
• Swarming Behavior:
• Drywood termites produce alates, or winged reproductives, which leave the colony to mate and establish new colonies.
• Swarming behavior typically occurs during warm months.
• Frass:
• Drywood termites produce distinctive fecal pellets known as frass, which are pushed out of small kick-out holes near the infested wood.
• The presence of frass is a common sign of drywood termite infestation.
• Detection:
• Detection of drywood termites can be challenging because they infest hidden and hard-to-reach areas.
• Look for signs such as frass, kick-out holes, or the presence of wings around windowsills.