Facts You Need to Know About Drywood Termites

Your home is one of your biggest assets. If you let drywood termites live there, they’ll cause a lot of damage. By learning everything you need to know about these pesky insects, you can more effectively deal with them.

So what do you need to know about drywood termites? Aside from the fact that they munch on wood, drywood termites are social insects. They live in unique colonies, and they’re different from subterranean termites among other things. Read on below to learn more.

Facts You Need to Know About Drywood Termites

Learning everything you can about drywood termites, including their habits, behavior, and physique, will help you come up with the best solution when dealing with them. So to help you get started, here are some of the most important things you need to know about drywood termites.

• They love wood

Beginning with the obvious, drywood termites obsessively search for wood to either eat or live in. From the structural timbers of your house to your beloved wooden furniture, these pests will pull no stops until it’s all theirs. Drywood termites prefer dry wood, but that doesn’t mean they won’t target any wood with moisture.

• They’ll target other cellulose sources

The main reason drywood termites target wood is that it’s rich in cellulose, so don’t expect them to stop at your wooden furniture or the wood components of your home. After they’re done with them, they’ll proceed with munching other cellulose sources in your home. They’ll target your trees and plants, books, and cardboard boxes among others.

• They have a unique caste system

While drywood termites are eusocial creatures, they don’t operate under the traditional caste system used by other insects or even by some termites. Instead of being designated to be workers, soldiers, or alates, all young members are conscripted as workers until they reach maturity. Only after that will they be assigned as either soldiers or alates. This allows them to grow their drywood termite colony and population faster, and it makes any drywood termite infestation all the more troublesome.

• They know how to keep a low profile

Drywood termites are secretive insects that can be difficult to detect. They live deep inside wood, appearing only during periods when they swarm or when repairs are being done on an infested home. They also don’t need to go out and make contact with the soil for hydration since they can create their own moisture by metabolizing wood. They also eat wood discreetly, always keeping the wood’s outer structure intact while the termite damage is kept within. Thus, they spend most of their lifespans inside the wood they feed on.

• They don’t need mud tubes

Since they don’t have to go to the solid to get moisture, they don’t need to dig or use mud tubes, unlike their subterranean cousins. Instead, they build smooth tunnels inside wooden structures, preferably eating against the grain. Additionally, they make holes where they kick out their fecal pellets or other excrements. This inadvertently gives away their location to the homeowners.

• They look for mates during summer

Drywood termite alates look for mates during warm, sunny days. They show phototropic behavior during the period, with most of them staying close to light sources during flight. Once they land at their destination, they shed off their wings, find a mate, and start engaging in courtship activity. Drywood termite couples stay together for life.

• They prefer settling in warm places

Drywood termites usually settle in areas that have warm or tropical climates. For example, most drywood termite infestations in the US are usually found in that strip that runs from California to Florida. If you happen to live there or in areas with a similar climate, then you need to be extra alert for possible drywood termite invasions.

Tips to Protect Your Home From Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are not only annoying but also extremely opportunistic as far as pests go. If you want to prevent any of them from invading your home, follow the tips below:

• Keep your property clean

You should start sanitizing your property before any drywood termite even starts considering stepping foot inside. Seal all the cracks, holes, and crevices you find in your structure to prevent termites or debris from getting in. Trim your shrubs, bushes, and other greeneries regularly. Get rid of any tree stumps and loose wood in your lawn. Doing these things will help keep those pesky drywood termites at bay.

• Check your wood regularly

At the same time, check any of the wood in your house and look for signs of drywood termites. The usual signs of drywood termites include their discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood, peeling paint, fecal pellets, and others. If you encounter any of these signs, deal with them right away.

• Store your firewood properly

Firewood is a magnet for drywood termites, so you shouldn’t leave them lying around in your home exposed. Instead, place them on a raised platform and make sure they’re well insulated from water. Doing this will protect the firewood from the termites, keep it from rotting, and basically prolong its shelf life.

• Install screens

If you really want to prevent drywood termites from entering the premises, seal their entry points with screens. Install screens in your windows, doors, and air vents, as well as on your plumbing and gutters. To ensure no termites, ants, or any other small insects enter, use 20-grade mesh screens.

• Minimize cardboard box use

As mentioned above, drywood termites target cellulose sources other than wood. If you have a lot of cardboard boxes in your attic, then your home will practically be a cellulose gold mine for these pests. To prevent that from happening, you need to minimize cardboard box usage. Get rid of the cardboard boxes in your homes and put all your things in plastic containers instead.

• Take care of papers

Your books, documents, and any other paper materials will be targets for drywood termites as well, so best store them properly, too. If you can, install glass screens in your bookshelves to protect your books and other reading materials. You should also keep important documents and paper files in a steel cabinet.

• Get regular anti-termite inspection

The best way to prevent any drywood termite infestation would be to have your property regularly checked by pest control. With their knowledge, skills, and experience, the best pest control professionals can effortlessly assess your home and determine whether or not you’re vulnerable to possible termite invasions.

Learn more: How to Get Rid of Drywood Termites

Let Pinnacle Pest Control Fix Your Drywood Termite Problem

Drywood termites are a homeowner’s worst nightmare since they’ll stop at nothing to eat anything wooden in your house. So the moment you spot some of them at your home, get help from your trusted pest control immediately.

Dealing with a drywood termite problem right now? Let Pinnacle Pest Control handle it! Our termite control services come with initial inspections, allowing you to pick the best method to eradicate drywood or subterranean termite infestation in your home.

Contact Pinnacle Pest Control now to get free quotes or learn more about our services.