Dangerous Types of Termites

Drywood Termites

• Drywood termites, unlike other species of termites, need little moisture in order to survive. For this reason, the drywood termite is able to live above the soil, often building colonies in homes and buildings. Less common than other species of termites, they are found primarily in the Southern coastal states of the United States. The drywood termite is larger than its subterranean cousins and its diet consists of primarily wood, but it will occasionally consume other cellulose materials such as carpet.

Subterranean Termites

• The subterranean termite requires a large amount of moisture to live. This prevents the subterranean termite from living outside the soil. Instead, the termites build large underground colonies. The termite uses soil and saliva to build protected tunnels that extend out of the ground in order to reach sources of food, consisting of any cellulose materials. Paths that have been eaten through wood are lined with more soil in order to preserve moisture through the tunnels. In North America, approximately 40 different species of subterranean termites exist.

Formosan Termites

• The Formosan termite is a particular type of subterranean termite that is sometimes called the super termite. The Formosan termite is believed to have originated in Asia and migrated to the United States after World War II. The Formosan termite shares similar habitat conditions to other subterranean termites except with colony sizes that dwarf the other species. These termites are extremely destructive and will consume virtually any wooden materials. While the individual termite doesn't consume larger amounts of material than other species, the massive size of the colony means that far more of a structure can be consumed in a shorter amount of time.

Dampwood Termites

• Dampwood termites are termites that require large amounts of moisture in order to survive, but make their homes outside the soil. In order to receive the moisture that they need, the dampwood termites build their colonies in wood that is exposed to moisture or comes into contact with the ground. Larger then subterranean termites, the dampwood termite is most common on the West Coast where it can infest structures that have suffered damage from rain runoff, leaky roofs and faulty plumbing.