Drywood termites are a major pest issue in the United States.
They cause millions of dollars of damage each year and often their handiwork is invisible until it is too late.
Learning where to find them, how to identify them and how to get rid of them is very helpful to minimize the potential damage from these wood chomping pests.
It depends a bit on where you live.
These may be a possible hazard in colder climates and in other areas they are very likely to be an issue.
Warmer climates and areas within four hours of the coastlines are heavy infestation areas.
All of the US states that border Mexico are likely to have them.
But be aware that any wooden items that come from these areas are likely to have drywood termites as well.
These are NOT Subterranean or Formosan termites.
The differences between the two are numerous so it is important to know what kind of termite you have in order to properly treat.
Drywood termites do not require moisture, have no connection to the soil, swarm at night instead of day and do not build mud tubes.
These wood eating monsters often feed on structures like homes and buildings as well as wood furniture and do insane amounts of damage each year.
The obvious sign of drywood termites are the little piles of what looks like sawdust that start to accumulate outside of where they are nesting.
This 'sawdust' is actually fecal pellets.
Yes, termite poop that represents the remnants of whatever they are eating and destroying.
These pellets are exceptionally consistent - 6 sided, small, oblong bullets that have been pushed out of the nest.
With this in mind, anytime you see an unexplained pile of sawdust, beware.
These sawdust piles can be tiny (a young nest, recent cleaning by someone without knowledge of the telltale signs of termites, etc.
) or quite large if these wood eaters have been munching away for a while.
They will be the color of whatever wood is being eaten.
Window sills are favored nesting sites as they are easily accessed by swarming termites looking for a new site.
But entire walls of buildings, roofs, door jambs, wooden fence posts, outdoor furniture, etc.
are all easy prey.
(FYI, treated lumber can help stave off infestations but are not even remotely a guarantee against them.
) The real concern is when these demons get inside the structures and begin to do their damage.
Antique furniture, valuable clocks, picture frames, etc.
can seem fine one day and suddenly, they are riddled with holes.
Being vigilant is very important.
If you find damage, the best treatment is to inject a safe, natural product that kills drywood termites directly into the tunnels.
Access to these tunnels is easy - there are holes where they are kicking out the fecal pellets.
It may take a few applications, but filling up these tunnels will kill them all plus destroy their eggs and save your wood.
They cause millions of dollars of damage each year and often their handiwork is invisible until it is too late.
Learning where to find them, how to identify them and how to get rid of them is very helpful to minimize the potential damage from these wood chomping pests.
It depends a bit on where you live.
These may be a possible hazard in colder climates and in other areas they are very likely to be an issue.
Warmer climates and areas within four hours of the coastlines are heavy infestation areas.
All of the US states that border Mexico are likely to have them.
But be aware that any wooden items that come from these areas are likely to have drywood termites as well.
These are NOT Subterranean or Formosan termites.
The differences between the two are numerous so it is important to know what kind of termite you have in order to properly treat.
Drywood termites do not require moisture, have no connection to the soil, swarm at night instead of day and do not build mud tubes.
These wood eating monsters often feed on structures like homes and buildings as well as wood furniture and do insane amounts of damage each year.
The obvious sign of drywood termites are the little piles of what looks like sawdust that start to accumulate outside of where they are nesting.
This 'sawdust' is actually fecal pellets.
Yes, termite poop that represents the remnants of whatever they are eating and destroying.
These pellets are exceptionally consistent - 6 sided, small, oblong bullets that have been pushed out of the nest.
With this in mind, anytime you see an unexplained pile of sawdust, beware.
These sawdust piles can be tiny (a young nest, recent cleaning by someone without knowledge of the telltale signs of termites, etc.
) or quite large if these wood eaters have been munching away for a while.
They will be the color of whatever wood is being eaten.
Window sills are favored nesting sites as they are easily accessed by swarming termites looking for a new site.
But entire walls of buildings, roofs, door jambs, wooden fence posts, outdoor furniture, etc.
are all easy prey.
(FYI, treated lumber can help stave off infestations but are not even remotely a guarantee against them.
) The real concern is when these demons get inside the structures and begin to do their damage.
Antique furniture, valuable clocks, picture frames, etc.
can seem fine one day and suddenly, they are riddled with holes.
Being vigilant is very important.
If you find damage, the best treatment is to inject a safe, natural product that kills drywood termites directly into the tunnels.
Access to these tunnels is easy - there are holes where they are kicking out the fecal pellets.
It may take a few applications, but filling up these tunnels will kill them all plus destroy their eggs and save your wood.