Difference between Drywood Termites and Subterranean Termites
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES AND DRYWOOD TERMITES-A QUICK COMPARISON
SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES
DRYWOOD TERMITES
FOOD AND MOISTURE
Need a great deal of moisture such as from soil, and damp wood, Cellulose (from wood) is their diet.
Moisture requirements are minimal. Cellulose(from wood ) is their diet.
HABITAT+ COLONY SIZE
Usually they live in the soil, but can be above ground if enough moisture is present. They have large colonies. A well established colony may contain 7 million termites. There are some species that have numerous smaller colonies of thousands of members
They live within the wood,no soil contact required to keep moist. Colony size is small(few hundred to a thousand members).
ascending from the ground to the structure or protruding from walls or trim.(See link for Pictures)
Termite swarming within the structure
Slits in the wood(flight slits)
Uncharacteristic waviness in the wood
Their fecal material looks "sand like". Kick-out holes on the walls,ceilings or wood. Infestation may take two years before evidence of droppings is present.
PREVENTION
Treat the soil before construction-pretreat with an termiticide.
For more information go to Traditional soil treatments.
