Types of Termites
Types of Termites
There are about 45 species of termites found in the U.S., each of which falls into one of the three main termite types – subterranean, drywood or dampwood. Each species has unique biology and behavior that impact what part of the country they live in, where they build their nests and their likelihood to damage homes.
Different Types of Termites
Subterranean termites belong to the family Rhinotermitidae. This species lives in the soil and builds the largest nests of any insect in the U.S. These nests are connected via mud tubes to food sources, such as trees, fence posts and structural timbers in houses. Subterranean termites, which can live in every U.S. state except Alaska, are responsible for the majority of termite damage in this country.
Drywood termites belong to the family Kalotermitidae and typically live in wood, such as dead trees, structural timbers or hardwood floors. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not require contact with soil. Some drywood termite species can cause significant damage to homes. However, drywood termite colonies tend to be smaller than subterranean termite colonies, so they typically cause damage at a slower rate than subterranean termites.
Dampwood termites belong to the families Kalotermitidae and Hodotermitidae and live in wood with high moisture content. Most dampwood termites do not require contact with the soil. Dampwood termites are rarely found in homes or other man-made structures, since wood in these structures typically does not have enough moisture.
Identifying Termite Species
Worker and nymph termites have few physical differences between species. Therefore, experts primarily use soldiers and termite reproductives (typically alates or swarmers) to identify which termite species may be infesting a home."
North American termites are active year round. One species – subterranean termites – can be [...]
Arid-Land subterranean termite
Scientific Name: Reticulitermes tibialis
This termite is part of the family Rhinotermitidae, which includes subterranean and [...]
Dampwood termites typically are found in the western states, from Washington to Montana and down [...]
Scientific Name: Paraneotermes simplicicornis
The desert dampwood termite is classified as part of the Kalotermitidae family, [...]
Scientific Name: Heterotermes aureus
This termite is part of the Rhinotermitidae family, which includes some dampwood [...]
Distribution of Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites can be found in every U.S. state except Alaska, which has temperatures too [...]
Drywood termites typically are found in the southern and western states, although they can be [...]
Scientific Name: Reticulitermes flavipes
The eastern subterranean termite is part of the Rhinotermitidae family, along with [...]
The Kalotermitidae family of termites is part of the Isoptera order, which is the classification [...]
Scientific Names
The Neotermes genus of termites includes nearly 100 species of termites. Three species are [...]
Scientific Name: Coptotermes formosanus
The Formosan termite is part of the Rhinotermitidae family of termites, which [...]
Scientific Name: Zootermopsis nevadensis
This termite belongs to the family Hodotermitidae.
Distribution in the U.S.
The Nevada dampwood [...]
Scientific Name: Nasutitermes costalis
The nose termite is a type of subterranean termite and part of [...]
Scientific Name: Zootermopsis angusticollis
This termite belongs to the Hodotermitidae family.
Distribution in the U.S.
The Pacific dampwood [...]
Subterranean termites are part of the family Rhinotermitidae. With few exceptions, these termites require contact [...]
Tropical Rough-headed drywood termites
Scientific Name: Cryptotermes brevis
The tropical rough-headed drywood termite is part of the Kalotermitidae family. It [...]
Tropical Smooth-headed Drywood Termites
Scientific Name: Cryptotermes cavifrons
The tropical smooth-headed drywood termite belongs to the Kalotermitidae family of termites.
Distribution [...]
Scientific Name: Incisitermes minor
The western drywood termite is part of the Kalotermitidae family.
Distribution in the [...]
Scientific Name: Reticulitermes hesperus
The western subterranean termite is part of the Rhinotermitidae family, which includes [...]