Termites FAQ

There are three main varieties of termites: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood. Subterranean termites live in the soil and are willing to tunnel dozens of meters just to find wood to feed on. Drywood termites are more commonly found in the southern United States and, like their namesake, prefer dry wood (unlike most of their kin). Finally, dampwood termites are larger and can only survive in moist, humid environments. They can live within wood and plug up holes to preserve moisture. This can make them difficult to notice.

Physically, these three varieties of termite look fairly similar. They have thick waists, straight antennae, and short legs. Their size is between 1/4 of an inch to about 3/8 of an inch, and their coloring varies in shade from light cream to darker black-brown depending on their role in the colony they live in.   

Termites are drawn in by the same things that draw other wood-boring insects: access to wood, especially kinds that are moist and unfinished or untreated. Leaky pipes, lack of drainage, and other moisture inducing situations attract termites. They also love wood that’s in contact with the foundations of your home or business so they can travel from underground burrows up and into the wood without as much difficulty.

 Termites do not carry diseases that can cause damage to humans. The biggest danger they present, however, is the damage they can cause to home furnishings and infrastructure. An especially difficult termite infestation can gut an entire home before the homeowners are even aware, which is not only incredibly costly but dangerous as well. 

 Termites will consume anything that contains cellulose. This includes paper, materials made with cotton, drywall paper, and anything made with wood.

 No home including those made of brick or stone is immune to termite attack.  Furniture, books, decorations, etc. are subject to attack even when the building is made of concrete.  Even poured concrete structures can develop hairline cracks (as small as 1/64 of an inch) which allow termite entry.  Over 2,000,000 homes will be infested with termites this year alone causing over 5 billion in damages.