This smaller termite is found from New England south to Florida and west to Texas. In parts of the south, the dark southeastern subterranean termite is very common and is a significant structural termite pest.

The dark southeastern subterranean termite has three castes. Workers perform most of the tasks of the maintenance of the colony as well as feed reproductives and soldiers. They also build the mud or shelter tubes to structures. Soldiers defend the colony from insect predators. Reproductives are responsible for egg laying, expansion of the colony, and start new colonies via swarming or nuptial flights. Swarming for this species usually occurs in the summer. While these colonies are not huge, swarming of this species can lead to millions of swarmers if there are multiple colonies swarming concurrently.

If there is adequate moisture in a structure, this termite may live above ground and have no need to contact soil. This is especially true when there are roof or plumbing leaks. This is one reason why it is important to properly maintain a structure.

These termites prefer wood with over 20% moisture so keeping wood dry will reduce chances of infestation. In areas with high humidity and little air movement, a dehumidifier may help to keep the wood dry.

Treatment to control this termite can be via liquid soil treatment, wood treatment, or via baits. A combination of these methods may also be used depending on the structure, preference of the pest control company, and needs of the customer.

The voracious Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus (Shiraki) is also a member of Rhinotermitidae. It is an invasive species, meaning that it is not native to the United States. It was imported into the US about sixty years ago. This termite is found in subtropical areas but also can be transported to other areas.

Subterranean termites typically live in the soil and do not come into the open. Their bodies are sensitive to dry atmosphere and need high moisture for the colony to survive. They will also build mud or shelter tubes to cross areas which are open. This ensures that the moisture is maintained and allows them to move freely without the danger of drying out. If there is adequate moisture in wood that they have tunneled to, they can feed and do not have to build tubes. They also will not have to return to the soil for moisture.

Formosan subterranean termites make above ground nests with a material called “carton”. The carton is made from soil, wood, and feces. The termites cement the material together with their saliva.

Subterranean termites typically have three castes. The worker termites do most of the work of maintaining the colony by physically repairing colony damage, tending to eggs and young, finding food sources, and feeding reproductives and soldiers. Soldiers defend the colony from invading insects. Reproductive termites either reproduce thus expanding the colony or they leave to start new colonies.

Southeastern drywood termites are typically found from South Carolina to Texas and south. They are also found on the islands east of the United States, such as the Bahamas. While southeastern drywood termites are more commonly found in these areas, they can be easily transported in infested furniture including picture frames. Drywood termites have been found in New England after a move from Florida.

Southeastern drywood termite swarmers or reproductives are up to a half inch long and are tan in color. These swarmers are attracted to light and typically swarm at night. The swarming season is long, from spring to early fall.

Drywood termites in general do not have huge colonies. The number of insects in a colony is only several thousand compared to over a million for some subterranean termites. Since the drywood termites do not have to go to the soil for moisture, there are no mud tubes or shelter tubes. Usually, the first sign of southeastern drywood termites is the appearance of pellets on floors or other horizontal surfaces. These pellets are small hard droppings the color of the wood consumed. These are about 1/32” long and have six concave sides.

What is interesting is that there are no worker termites in this species. All “workers” are immature termites.

Treatments for control of southeastern drywood termites range from local treatment to structural fumigation or fumigation of infested materials.

Government organizations complete termite surveys to gauge the spread and activity of termite species nationwide, including subterranean termites. Field surveys may include information recorded by using sticky traps to capture swarming termites, or monitoring stations to test for the presence of foraging termites. Another type of termite survey relies on pest control experts to submit geographical information for termite species they have identified.

Common Subterranean Termites in the U.S.
Termite maps created from surveys and academic research show the broad reach of subterranean termites across the U.S.

• The eastern subterranean termite can be found from Maine down to Florida, across to Montana and down to the Gulf Coast in Texas.
• The western subterranean termite can be found from Washington to southern California and into Idaho and Nevada.
• Formosan termites can be found in Louisiana, Texas, Hawaii, California, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
• The arid-land subterranean termite can be located in sunny, dry areas from the Pacific Coast to Indiana, down to southern California and across to Texas and Mississippi.
• The desert subterranean termite can be found in southeastern California and southern Arizona.

As you can see in these dampwood termite pictures, these termites most often are found in damp wood, such as logs, stumps and other decaying wood. Most dampwood termites do not require soil contact.

Dampwood Termite Colonies
Compared to subterranean termite colonies, dampwood termite colonies tend to be fairly small. A mature colony might grow to 4,000 termites.

Dampwood termites inhabit and feed on wood with high moisture content. Since most homes do not have very moist structural timbers, dampwood termites are not classified as major structural pests in the United States. However, if your home has damp wood, termites can infest it and build nests. When dampwood termites infest homes, their point of entry is often wood-to-ground contact.

Signs of Dampwood Termite Infestation
Signs of dampwood termite infestation include small swarms of flying termites and fecal pellets. Both dampwood and drywood termites leave behind small mounds of fecal pellets. However, drywood termite pellets are six-sided and dry, while dampwood termite pellets are moist and not as well defined in shape. It is unlikely that you will see dampwood termite damage, as worker termites typically plug all holes in wood with fecal material.

Dampwood Termite Control
If dampwood termites have established a colony in your home, your first priority should be to address moisture issues. When the colony’s source of water is removed, most dampwood termites will dry out and die. Team up with a contractor to identify and correct the water problem, which may be caused by leaky pipes, a leaky roof, faulty gutters or air conditioner condensation lines.

Then, contact your pest control expert to complete an inspection for any continued activity. If the water issue cannot be corrected, your pest control expert may be able to treat the wood with termiticide. However, some chemicals are diluted by water and may not be as effective.

In some cases, you will be achieve the most effective termite control by making structural changes, such as replacing damp, infested wood.

Distribution in the U.S.
Nose termites were first discovered in Dania Beach (Broward County), Fla., in 2001. This species is native to the Caribbean Islands, not the U.S. It was likely introduced to Florida via a ship. It can be found mostly in the eastern U.S.

Behavior
Nose termites form very large colonies, some with millions of termites.

Although nose termites are subterranean termites, their nests differ significantly from the nests of native subterranean termites. Nose termites can build extensive nests underground or mound-like nests at ground level and in trees. Typically, these termites build nests at the base of a tree, with foraging tubes extending away from the nest along the tree trunks and soil.

Do Nose Termites Damage Homes?
Nose termites are known to infest homes. Although experts say they are not as destructive as Formosan termites, they are capable of causing significant damage to homes and businesses.

What Do Nose Termites Look Like?
Nose termite soldiers have dark brown or black heads with a nasus, or tube-like snout, and very large mandibles. Alates (swarmers) are dark brown in color and have very dark wings. Worker termites typically are white, almost translucent, in color.

When Do Nose Termites Swarm?
Nose termites swarm in late May and June. In the Dominican Republic, swarming activity has been noted in the evening and at night.

Nose Termite Contr
Because nose termites nest at ground level and above ground, traditional methods of subterranean termite control may not be entirely effective. A licensed pest control expert will be able to recommend methods that can control this exotic termite species.

Distribution in the U.S.
The Pacific dampwood termite is found in California, Oregon and Washington. It is most common in damp, coastal areas and is the largest, most destructive dampwood termite in the U.S.

Behavior
As part of the Hodotermitidae family, the Pacific dampwood termite is sometimes referred to as a rottenwood termite because it attacks very moist wood.

Do Pacific Dampwood Termites Damage Homes?
Dampwood termites can cause significant damage. They rarely infest sound wood. However, once a Pacific dampwood termite colony has infested wood with high moisture content, it can move into adjoining areas of dry wood.

This Pacific termite does not require soil contact. However, wood-to-ground contact in a home’s construction often leads to dampwood infestations. Homes built over or near water, or with wood buried in the ground, are more likely to be infested.

What Do Pacific Dampwood Termites Look Like?
The Pacific dampwood termite is the largest termite native to the U.S. Pacific dampwood termite kings, queens and alates can exceed 1 inch in length, including their wings. They are dark brown and have brown wings.

Nymphs measure about 1/2 inch and are cream colored with spots on their abdomens.

Soldiers measure about 3/4 inch and are cream colored with dark-colored heads that range from reddish-brown to black.

When Do Pacific Dampwood Termites Swarm?
Swarms tend to occur on warm, humid evenings during the late summer or early fall. Due to their smaller colony size (as many as 4,000 members), Pacific dampwood termite colonies produce smaller swarms – typically less than 60 termites each.

Distribution in the U.S.
The Nevada dampwood termite is found in the mountains of northern Nevada, Idaho and Montana, as well as the Sierra Nevada region, northern coast of California, Oregon and Washington.

Behavior
There are three Zootermopsis species of termites, and they are sometimes called rottenwood termites because they attack wood with very high moisture content. These termites often nest in buried wood, but soil contact is not required.

Nevada dampwood termites behave similarly to Pacific dampwood termites and even live in many of the same places.

Do Nevada Dampwood Termites Damage Homes?
Occasionally, Nevada dampwood termites infest homes and can cause significant damage. Experts typically find infestations near fence posts, wood siding in contact with the ground and leaks close to the ground (such as downspouts). However, the moisture content of housing structures is usually too low to interest this termite. In addition, these Nevada termites are not common in highly populated areas.

When they do infest homes, moisture control should be your first priority. Targeted treatments can be used to control a colony more quickly or in the event that the moisture issue cannot be resolved effectively.

What Do Nevada Dampwood Termites Look Like?
Kings, queens and alates can be up to 3/4 inch long and are dark brown with brown wings.

Nymphs are cream colored and have spots on their abdomens.

Soldiers have flat brown or yellowish-brown heads with large, dark-colored jaws.

When Do Nevada Dampwood Termites Swarm?
Where they occur at higher elevations, Nevada dampwood termites swarm in spring. In coastal areas, they tend to swarm in summer and early fall.

Distribution in the U.S.
The desert dampwood termite is located in the southwestern U.S., from western Texas to southern California. It can be found as far north as Las Vegas.

Behavior
Surprisingly, this desert termite – which is found mainly in arid climates – prefers to eat damp wood. It targets wood that is below ground, including shrub or tree roots, fence posts and door frames. This termite even feeds on live trees, which have moisture content in the form of sap.

Desert dampwood termite colonies are small. There are usually less than 1,500 termites in each colony.

Do Desert Dampwood Termites Damage Homes?
The desert dampwood termite is rarely found in homes. However, it can cause damage to homes when it finds wet wood, which is typically associated with a leak or improper grading around a home’s foundation.

What Do Desert Dampwood Termites Look Like
Desert dampwood termite soldiers are brown or yellow in color and range from 5/16 inch to 7/16 inch long.

Nymphs have spotted abdomens.

Kings, queens and alates are dark brown and have dark-colored wings.

When Do Desert Dampwood Termites Swarm?
The desert dampwood termite swarms from late May through October.

Distribution in the U.S.
The desert subterranean termite is found in southeastern California and southern Arizona.

Behavior
The desert subterranean termite feeds on many types of wood, including structural timbers in homes, utility poles, dead cactus trees and other desert trees. This insect frequently builds mud tubes, including mud tubes that drop from the ceiling. These tubes are typically yellowish and lighter in color than tubes made by the arid-land subterranean termite, which inhabits the same geographical areas.

Do Desert Subterranean Termites Damage Homes?
Desert subterranean termites are limited to the hottest, driest regions in Arizona and California. This species causes very little damage to homes and buildings.

What Do Desert Subterranean Termites Look Like?
Desert subterranean termite alates measure 1/2 inch, including the wings. They are tan or pale yellow in color.

Soldiers have broad, dark-colored heads. These soldiers look like the arid-land subterranean termite soldiers, except that the jaws of desert subterranean termite soldiers are narrower.

When Do Desert Subterranean Termites Swarm?

The desert subterranean termite typically swarms during the summer rainy season, from July to September. This termite swarms at dusk, after a rain.