North American termites are active year round. One species – subterranean termites – can be found in every U.S. state, except Alaska. Drywood and dampwood termites typically are more regional. Termites often are more active in warmer areas and coastal states, but they can survive and cause damage to homes in other states.
Subterranean Termites in America
Living in the soil, subterranean termites can sustain outdoor temperature fluctuations better than other species. They simply move to different depths in the soil to find the optimal temperature. Some subterranean termites can build nests as far as 18 inches below ground in search of the right temperature. Formosan termites are the most destructive type of subterranean termites, due to their large colony size.
Drywood Termites in America
Drywood termites typically live in warmer parts of the U.S., where winter temperatures do not drop below freezing. These termites live above ground and therefore, are not as protected from the weather as subterranean termites. However, drywood termites that build colonies inside homes are protected from extreme temperature changes – allowing them to survive in very cold states. These drywood infestations usually are traced to shipments of furniture or wooden crates that originated in warmer states.
Dampwood Termites in America
Dampwood termites are located in the southwestern U.S., on the Pacific Coast and in Florida. However, they have very high moisture requirements and rarely infest homes or other buildings.
North American Termite Pest Control
The successful control of termite infestations begins with the identification process. Many termite species in the United States look similar. It is important that an expert correctly identify the termite species in order to recommend the most targeted and effective control methods possible.
Subterranean termite infestations often are controlled with liquid termiticides applied to the soil, bait and monitoring stations, direct wood treatment, or a combination of these methods.
Drywood termites may be controlled with termiticide applied directly to wood, fumigation, heat treatment, extreme cold or electronic methods.
Most dampwood termite infestations do not occur in homes and can be controlled when the source of water is removed.