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Termites are a common pest problem for homeowners that can cause billions of dollars in damage to properties every year. Understanding what termites are, how to identify them, and how to protect your home from infestation is essential. This guide covers everything you need to know about termites, from what termites look like to their types and behaviors to effective control methods.
What are termites?
Termites are small, wood-eating insects that can cause serious structural damage to homes and buildings. Often mistaken for ants, termites live in colonies and feed on cellulose found in wood, paper, and other organic materials. The most common termite categories in the U.S. include subterranean, drywood, and dampwood termites, which are particularly prevalent in warm, humid regions like Florida.
Knowing what termites look like and understanding their colony, diet, and lifecycle can aid in the early detection of termites in your home, and early detection is key to avoiding serious termite damage to your home or other buildings. Termites are silent destroyers and having a termite infestation in your home can cause major damage to your property and your wallet.
Types of termites
There are approximately 2,000 known termite species in the world all varying in shape, color, and size.¹ Below are three of the most commonly found termite types on the east coast.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites are the most common type of termite found in the United States. They live in underground colonies and build mud tubes to reach food sources above ground. These termites are highly destructive, as they can tunnel through wood, causing significant structural damage. Subterranean termites thrive in moist environments, making homes with poor drainage or excessive moisture particularly vulnerable to infestation.
Drywood termites
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not require contact with soil to survive. Instead, they infest dry wood, often inside walls, furniture, and even wooden flooring. They are common in coastal areas and the southern United States, where the climate is warm and humid. Drywood termites leave behind frass, also known as termite droppings, as a sign of their activity.
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Formosan termites
Formosan termites are a particularly aggressive species of subterranean termites. Native to East Asia but now common in the southern U.S., Formosan termites build massive colonies and can cause extensive damage in a short period of time. They can construct nests both above and below ground, increasing their range of attack on a structure.
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Dampwood Termites
As their name suggests, dampwood termites prefer to infest wood with high moisture content. They are less common in residential areas but can still be a problem in homes with leaking pipes or poor ventilation. Dampwood termites are typically larger than other termite species and are often found in decaying logs or stumps.
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How to identify termites
Termites are often mistaken for other pests like ants, so proper identification is key in managing a potential infestation. There are several ways to recognize termites in and around your home.
What do termites look like?
Termites have straight antennae, soft bodies, and range in color from light brown to black. The reproductive termites, or swarmers, have two pairs of wings of equal size, which they shed after mating. Unlike ants, termites have a straight waist, and their wings are uniform in size. If you see insects with these characteristics, you might be looking at termites.
Signs of a termite infestation
Termites are often called "silent destroyers" because they can cause extensive damage before being noticed. Here are some common signs of termite infestation:
Termite swarms
One of the earliest signs of a termite problem is the presence of termite swarms. These are winged reproductive termites, called swarmers, that leave their colonies in search of new nesting sites. Termite swarms typically occur in the spring or after heavy rains.
Discarded wings
After termites swarm and find a new place to settle, they shed their wings. If you find piles of discarded wings near windows, doors, or other entry points, it could indicate that termites are nearby.
Damaged wood
Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving behind hollowed, damaged structures. Tap on wooden beams or walls—if they sound hollow or break easily, this could be a sign of termite activity. Additionally, if you see tunnels or “galleries” inside the wood, termites have likely been at work.
Where do termites live?
Termites can live in a variety of environments, but they prefer places with access to food and moisture.
Habitat and nesting areas
Subterranean termites build colonies in the soil and create mud tubes to access above-ground wood sources. Drywood termites live directly in the wood they infest, such as furniture, wooden framing, and floors. Formosan termites usually nest in soil but can also establish satellite nests in structures. Dampwood termites, on the other hand, are found in moist wood, such as decaying stumps or water-damaged homes.
Termite lifecycle and colony structure
Termite lifecycle
Termites go through a metamorphosis including egg, nymph, and adult. Depending on the species, some queens can lay up to 30,000 eggs per day. After an egg hatches, it turns into a nymph and then into an adult. Once it becomes an adult, it is classified into one of three termite castes. The development process can take several months, depending on environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity.
Termite colony structure
- Workers: These termites are responsible for gathering food, maintaining the nest, and caring for the young.
- Soldiers: They defend the colony from predators, such as ants, with their strong mandibles.
- Reproductive termites (Alates): These are the winged termites that leave the colony during swarming season to establish new colonies.
Termite diet: What do termites eat?
The primary food source for termites is cellulose. Cellulose is an organic fiber found in wood and other grass plants. Many termites feed on wood that is partly decayed. These tiny pests can break down the wood into smaller substances making it easier for them to chew and digest. Cellulose has all the nutrients needed for a termite to survive.
Termites vs. other pests
Termites are often confused with other pests, especially ants, due to their similar size and appearance. However, there are distinct differences.
Termites vs. ants
Since both pests are incredibly tiny, termites are often confused with ants. Let’s look at two of the most common ant types that are confused with termites: flying ants and carpenter ants.
Flying ants vs. flying termites
So, how do you tell the difference between flying ants and termites? For one, termites are smaller than ants and have straight antennae, as opposed to flying ants which have bent antennae. Another key difference is the size of the wings. Flying ants have larger front wings and smaller hind wings, while termites' wings are all of equal size. Termite swarmers are also more likely to shed their wings. Also, termites also have straighter abdomens, whereas flying ants have a pinched waist where the abdomen and thorax join.
Carpenter ants vs. termites
Termites and carpenter ants are often confused because the season for both species’ swarmers happens at the same time each year. The major difference between termites and carpenter ants is the damage they cause. Contrary to popular belief, carpenter ants just chew wood, they don’t eat it. Carpenter ants excavate galleries making the wood look like it was sanded. Termites, on the other hand, eat the softer part of the wood’s growth rings, causing the damaged wood to have a waffled or layered look.
When are termites most active?
Termites are generally most active during warmer months, especially in the peak swarming season of spring and summer. However, they remain active and continue to eat wood during the colder months even if they are not so visible.
Seasonal activity of termites
Subterranean termite swarmers are most active during the spring and after heavy rains when the ground is moist, and they can build mud tubes more easily. Drywood and dampwood termites tend to swarm in late summer to early fall, but the workers remain active year-round in their colonies.
How to prevent and control termites
Prevention is key to avoiding costly damage caused by termites.
Termite treatment options
Professional termite pest control companies like Ehrlich offer several treatment options, including liquid termiticides, baiting systems, and fumigation for drywood termite infestations. Each method is designed to eliminate existing colonies and our liquid and bait services can prevent new ones from forming. Contact us today for a free termite inspection.
DIY prevention tips
To help minimize the risk of termites invading your property, you can take a few key steps to prevent termite infestations:
- Reduce moisture around the foundation
- Fix leaky pipes and drains
- Ensure proper ventilation in crawl spaces and attics
- Keep mulch, firewood, and wooden structures away from the home’s foundation
Need help with termite control?
If you suspect a termite infestation, it’s essential to act quickly as termites can threaten your home’s structural integrity. Contact Ehrlich Pest Control to schedule a free termite inspection. We can assess the extent of the termite problem and recommend the most effective treatment plan.