Drywood termites: What you need to know

Drywood termite damage is often an unexpected expense for homeowners. Due to their size and nesting habits, it can be difficult to identify a drywood termite infestation until it’s too late. Did you know termites cost homeowners in the US billions of dollars in property damage each year? That’s why it’s important to be educated about pest control and the damage termites are capable of causing.

If you’re not familiar with drywood termites, we’ve provided an outline of what they are and how you can prevent them.

What are drywood termites?

Drywood termites are a species of termite commonly found in the southern and western United States. They are called drywood termites because they don’t require soil contact or aboveground moisture sources to survive. Drywood termites live within the sources they feed on, including dead trees, furniture, wooden floors, and beams.

They produce smaller colonies than other termite species. A drywood termite species can contain roughly 5,000 termites.

Subterranean Termites vs. Drywood Termites

Another species of termites homeowners often worry about is subterranean termites. These termites live underground, require moisture for survival, and are more aggressive than drywood termites. Subterranean termites build nests underground and connect it to food sources, similar to those drywood termites feed on.

A tell-tale sign of subterranean termites is mud tubes near the base of housing structures, which provide pathways for termite swarms.

Signs of Termite Damage

Signs of termite infestations are pretty much the same throughout all species of termites. Common signs are:

• Buckling wood

• Shelter tubes

• Swollen floors or ceilings

• Mazes within walls and furniture

• Small piles of feces (frass) near wooden structures

• Hollow sound when tapping wood structures, like walls

If you have seen these signs of damage in your home, we recommend you call a professional pest control service to prevent any further damage.

How to get rid of drywood termites?

There are a variety of DIY termite treatments that can be found online.

When it comes to DIY treatments however, the margin of error can be high. When you hire a professional pest control service, you don’t have to worry whether or not your DIY treatment will work. DIY termite treatments may save you money, but depending on the severity of the infestation, you could end up doing more harm than good.

Professional Termite Control

When you hire a professional pest control company, you remove the stress, worry, and wonder of whether the DIY termite exterminating method will actually work. Western Exterminator trains their pest control specialists with the most up-to-date, effective termite control methods to protect one of your most important investments, your home.

For more information on Western’s US termite control program in California, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, or Nevada, contact us online or call 800-937-8398.

About Western Exterminator:

Western Exterminator has provided residential and commercial pest control services to the western United States since 1921. The company is a proud member of the Rentokil family and strives to provide the same excellence, training and customer service to its customers. Western Exterminator specializes in termite control, bed bug treatment, rodent control and more. For more information on Western Exterminator, visit www.westernexterminator.com.