Is This a Termite???

At Hydrex Pest Control we receive many calls from customers who are afraid they may have termites.  I thought it might be helpful to go over what the most common termites look like in their various stages of development, so here we go.

The two most common termites we encounter in California are the subterranean and the drywood. Subs, as we affectionately refer to them, live in the ground and are attracted to moisture.  They consume cellulose (wood) and travel through mudtubes. Subs are very destructive and  some species colonies have been known to consume up to 15 pounds of wood in one weeks time!  A large well established colony can have up to 7 million members.

Their caste system consists of workers, soldiers, winged reproductives a Queen and a King.  People generally notice them when the reproductives swarm.

These are specimens of subterranean workers and a winged reproductive.

Drywood termites live in the wood and do not require contact with soil. Their colonies are much smaller, usually a few hundred to a thousand. The most obvious sign of infestation are the kick holes they create as they tunnel through wood, leaving a small pile of  frass which looks like sand pellets outside the hole.

They have the same type of caste system as the subs and both types of swarmers can be mistaken for ant swarmers.

Drywood reproductives

You can capture an insect and have it identified by a pest control company or you can call out a professional to do a limited or a full inspection of your home.  At Hydrex we offer free limited inspections and also full inspections for a fee.

It is very important that you identify termites as soon as you suspect you may have them.  You’ll want to get your house treated to stop the termites from doing any further damage.

Hope this helps you spot them!