Did you know that termites can destroy your home and furniture causing you to change your furniture annually? They do not only make you spend more but ruin the aesthetic of your home. When getting rid of these termites, you use general pest control for termites, ignoring which kind of termite is actually causing harm in your home.
This makes you waste money and time getting rid of a different termite rather than the termite actually causing the problem. Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites are very similar, cause the same damage but they differ in size, color and level of damage
This blogpost will show you the difference between drywood and subterranean termites, highlighting the damage they cause, their key differences, and their various pest control methods.
Let’s start with their differences.
Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites: Key Differences
1.Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites Appearance
In terms of appearance, drywood termites are slightly larger than subterranean termites, with worker and soldier termites typically measuring around half an inch in length. Their bodies are often a pale brown or reddish-brown color, which can make them easier to identify when visible.
They have large mandibles (particularly in the soldier caste), and their winged Swarmers, which emerge to mate and establish new colonies, tend to be a darker brown color with translucent wings.
Due to their smaller colony sizes—often consisting of just a few thousand termites—drywood termites generally cause slower, long-term damage.
Subterranean termites are smaller in size than drywood termites, usually measuring about a quarter of an inch. Their bodies tend to be darker brown, especially the soldier caste, which makes them easier to spot against lighter backgrounds like wood.
Their colonies are significantly larger than those of drywood termites, often containing hundreds of thousands to even millions of individuals. This larger colony size enables subterranean termites to cause more immediate and extensive damage compared to drywood termites.
When an infestation occurs, they can quickly destroy wood structures, weakening foundational wood and compromising the structural integrity of buildings within months if left unchecked.
2. Habitat of Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites
Drywood Termites are typically found living within the wood they infest, relying on the wood itself for both food and shelter. Unlike their subterranean counterparts, they do not require contact with soil or external moisture to survive.
This ability allows them to thrive in drier conditions, making them a common pest in dry, coastal areas and warmer regions. Drywood termites are known to attack structural wood, furniture, hardwood floors, and wooden support beams, establishing colonies directly inside the wood and gradually expanding over time.
Because they don’t rely on soil, they are harder to detect, often going unnoticed until severe damage has already been done.
Subterranean Termites, on the other hand, require soil contact to survive. They depend on the moisture found in soil, which is why they are often found in damper environments or areas with direct access to soil.
These termites do not live inside the wood they consume; instead, they travel to and from their nests, creating mud tubes as protective passageways between their underground colonies and food sources above ground.
These mud tubes help retain the moisture they need and offer a clear sign of subterranean termite activity. Because of their visible mud tubes and need to connect their habitat to the wood they are consuming, subterranean termites are somewhat easier to detect than drywood termites.
3. Signs of Infestation
Drywood termites are notorious for living within the wood they infest, making their presence more discreet than other termites. Because they don’t rely on soil contact or build mud tubes, drywood termites leave fewer obvious signs. However, there are a few key indicators that can reveal an infestation:
- Frass (Wood Dust): One of the most common signs of a drywood termite infestation is the presence of frass, which is essentially fine wood dust or tiny pellet-like droppings left behind as they consume wood.
- Kick-Out Holes: Drywood termites create small, round holes in wood to expel their frass. These “kick-out” holes allow the termites to keep their tunnels clean, pushing frass out of their nests. If you notice these small holes paired with tiny mounds of frass around wooden structures, there’s a strong chance of drywood termite activity.
Subterranean termites, in contrast to drywood termites, need soil contact to survive. They typically build their colonies underground and access above-ground wood structures through mud tubes, which offer them moisture and protection as they move.
- Mud Tubes: One of the most recognizable signs of subterranean termite activity is the presence of mud tubes, often found along exterior walls, foundations, or wooden structures that are close to the ground. These tubes act as highways, allowing termites to travel between their nest in the soil and the wood they’re feeding on.
- Water-Damaged or Swollen Wood: Subterranean termites introduce moisture into the wood they consume. These termites create moisture-rich environments inside wood to make it easier to digest, often causing visible swelling or a damp, spongy feeling in affected areas. Drywood Termites
When it comes to the speed of damage caused by termites, drywood termites are slower as they have smaller colonies. But because they live within the wood they eat, they are often not spotted early and can cause great damage to your woods.
These pests can hollow out wooden beams, flooring, and furniture, threatening the structural integrity of your home and leading to costly repairs.
Prevention and Control Methods for Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites
Preventing termite infestations requires vigilance and a multi-pronged approach. For drywood termites, sealing cracks, crevices, and exposed wood surfaces can make your home less appealing.
Regular inspections by professionals can catch early signs of termite activity. Subterranean termites can be deterred by addressing moisture issues around your home, fixing leaks, and ensuring proper drainage.
If an infestation is discovered, professional fumigation for drywood termites and baiting systems for subterranean termites are effective treatments that require expert handling.
Conclusion
Both drywood vs. subterranean termites can cause severe damage if left untreated, but the extent of the damage depends on factors like your home’s construction and the local environment.
Subterranean termites may cause damage more quickly due to their large colonies, but drywood termites are harder to detect, making their damage more insidious. The best defence against both species is regular inspections and prompt treatment.
For homeowners, termites are a year-round threat. If you suspect an infestation, don’t wait. Contact a pest control expert to schedule an inspection and safeguard your property from these destructive pests.
