Drywood Termites

What Are Drywood Termites?

Drywood termites, scientifically known as Cryptotermes spp., are a type of termite that belongs to the family Kalotermitidae. These termites are of particular concern to homeowners and property owners because they infest dry, sound wood and can cause significant structural damage over time. Here is an overview of drywood termites:

Are Drywood Termites Harmful?

Drywood termites are considered significant pests due to the extensive and often hidden damage they can inflict on wooden structures and objects, as well as the challenges they present in detection, treatment, and control. Here is why drywood termites are classified as pests:

• Structural Damage to Wood: Drywood termites consume wood from the inside out, hollowing it while leaving the outer surface largely intact. This behavior can compromise the structural integrity of buildings, furniture, flooring, and other wooden items without obvious outward signs until severe damage has occurred. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not require contact with soil and can infest any part of a structure above ground.
• Stealthy and Difficult to Detect: Drywood termites are notoriously difficult to detect in the early stages of infestation. They live deep within the wood they consume and do not build external mud tubes like subterranean termites. Infestations often go unnoticed for months or even years, during which time significant internal damage may occur.
• Widespread Infestation Potential: A single colony of drywood termites can infest multiple areas of a structure. Because they live entirely within wood, they can be transported inadvertently in infested furniture, lumber, or wooden crafts, spreading infestations across regions and into previously unaffected buildings.
• Aesthetic and Financial Impact: In addition to compromising structural soundness, drywood termites also cause cosmetic damage. Their tunneling distorts the shape and surface of wood, and the presence of their frass (termite droppings) is unsightly. Repairing termite damage is often expensive and time-consuming, and in severe cases, entire structures or pieces of furniture may need replacement.
• Complexity and Cost of Treatment: Treating drywood termites is more complex than treating many other household pests. Because they nest inside the wood they infest, localized treatments may not reach all colony members. This often necessitates whole-structure fumigation, a costly, disruptive, and time-intensive process requiring residents to vacate the premises. Alternative treatments like heat or spot treatments may not always be effective if the full extent of the infestation is not accurately determined.
• Resistance to Environmental Factors: Unlike subterranean termites that need moisture from the soil, drywood termites extract the moisture they need from the wood they consume. This allows them to thrive in dry, warm climates and in buildings where moisture control alone is insufficient as a preventive measure.
• Persistent Reinfestation Risk: Even after treatment, the risk of reinfestation remains high if wood remains exposed or untreated. Without regular inspections and preventive treatments, especially in termite-prone areas, new colonies can easily establish themselves in the same structure or surrounding materials.

Drywood termites are considered serious pests because of their ability to cause hidden, long-term damage to wooden structures and materials, their difficulty of detection, and the complexity and cost of eradication. Their presence can result in substantial financial losses, aesthetic degradation, and safety hazards, making professional pest management not only advisable but essential in infested or at-risk properties.

Drywood Termite Appearance

Drywood termites have distinct physical characteristics that vary depending on their caste—alates (winged reproductives), soldiers, and workers (or pseudoworkers, since drywood termites lack a true worker caste). Here is a breakdown of their appearance by caste:

Alates (Winged Reproductives)

These are the termites most often seen by homeowners, especially when they swarm to establish new colonies.

• Size: About 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, including wings.
• Color: Light brown to dark brown or tan; varies slightly by species.
• Wings: Two pairs of long, translucent wings with a slight iridescence; wings are nearly equal in length and extend well beyond the body.
• Antennae: Straight or slightly curved, bead-like.
• Distinctive Traits: Wings have visible venation and are often shed shortly after swarming. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not leave behind mud tubes; instead, their presence is often first noticed by discarded wings or frass (fecal pellets).

Soldiers

Soldiers are responsible for defending the colony from predators.

• Size: Slightly smaller than alates, about 3/8 inch long.
• Color: Creamy white to light brown body with a large, dark brown head.
• Head: Rectangular and heavily sclerotized (hardened).
• Mandibles (Jaws): Large, well-developed, curved mandibles for defense.
• Antennae: Straight and bead-like.
• Distinctive Traits: They have no wings and are rarely seen unless the colony is disturbed. Their oversized heads and powerful jaws are their most distinguishing features.

Nymphs / Pseudoworkers

Drywood termites do not have a true worker caste. Instead, immature termites called pseudoworkers (false workers) perform the labor within the colony.

• Size: Smaller than soldiers and alates, around 1/4 inch long.
• Color: Creamy white to pale yellow.
• Body: Soft-bodied and wingless.
• Head: Small, with no large mandibles like soldiers.
• Distinctive Traits: Responsible for feeding, grooming, and colony maintenance. Rarely seen unless wood is opened or infested materials are dismantled.

General Identification Tips

• No contact with soil: Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites live entirely in dry wood, so mud tubes are not present.
• Frass: Presence of dry, pellet-like droppings (hexagonal and ridged) near wooden structures is a telltale sign.
• Wings: Shedded wings near window sills or wooden frames are often the first sign of a swarming event.

Drywood Termites Habitat

You are most likely to encounter drywood termites in warm, coastal, or subtropical regions, particularly where wood is abundant and remains dry for long periods. Unlike subterranean termites, which require soil contact and moisture, drywood termites live entirely within dry wood and draw all the moisture they need from the wood itself. This allows them to infest above-ground wooden structures, often in places that are dry and exposed.

Here is where you are most likely to encounter drywood termites:

Geographic Regions

Drywood termites thrive in warmer climates, and their presence is most prevalent in:

• Southern California
• Arizona
• Texas
• Florida
• Louisiana
• Alabama
• Hawaii (highly prevalent due to the climate)

These areas offer ideal conditions: warm temperatures, dry seasons, and plenty of wooden structures.

Common Infestation Sites in Structures

Drywood termites can infest virtually any wooden item above ground. The most common places they are found include:

Residential and Commercial Buildings

• Roof eaves, fascia boards, and wooden siding
• Attics and crawlspaces
• Window and door frames
• Wooden flooring and baseboards
• Exposed beams, joists, and rafters
• Cabinets, furniture, and picture frames
• Wooden trim and moldings

Furniture and Wooden Items

Drywood termites often enter structures through infested furniture, especially antique or second-hand wooden pieces. They can infest:

• Wooden chairs, tables, and bed frames
• Picture frames and mirrors with wooden borders
• Shipping crates, pallets, and wooden art pieces

Conditions That Attract Them

You are more likely to encounter drywood termites in areas where:

• Wood is exposed and untreated, particularly under eaves, decks, and around windows
• Ventilation is poor, allowing warm, dry air to accumulate
• There are gaps or cracks in wood or siding that provide access points
• Second-hand or imported wooden items are brought into the home or building

Signs of Their Presence

Even in the most at-risk areas, drywood termites are elusive and can go undetected for long periods. Watch for:

• Small piles of frass (dry, pellet-shaped droppings) near infested wood
• Discarded wings, usually near windows, baseboards, or vents
• Blistered or hollow-sounding wood, which may indicate internal tunneling
• Kick-out holes, small exit holes where frass is expelled

Drywood termites are most commonly encountered in warm, dry climates, particularly in coastal or southern U.S. states and other subtropical regions. Within homes or structures, they target dry, exposed, untreated wood, often entering through attics, rooflines, furniture, or wooden trim. Their ability to remain hidden inside wood makes routine inspections critical in areas where they are prevalent.