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). |
| EVIDENCE OF ACTIVITY |
- Protective mud tubes
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.
- A Termite Bait Station Monitoring System to monitor termite activity and bait placements after detection.
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Eliminate Termite Conducive Conditions to infestation.
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Regular inspections by a pest control company or yourself if qualified.
| - Use treated lumber during construction.
- Coat any untreated wood or exposed wood with TIMBOR or BORACARE
- Seal all cracks and crevices with caulking.
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| CONTROL MEASURES |
When activity is present:
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Termite Baiting program
- Termite Barrier Treatment.
- Keep a monitoring system, either with bait stations or inspections.
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For complete treatment:
- Tent fumigation.
For spot treatments/light activity:
- Locate kick out holes.
- Lightly puncture hole to inject DRIONE DUST or an aerosol like INVADER in kick out hole.
- Seal kick out hole with caulk.
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See DRYWOOD TERMITESfor recommended procedures.
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