When most Bay Area homeowners think about termites, they think about subterranean termites — the underground species that build mud tubes and attack wood from the soil up. But there’s a second significant termite threat in our region: drywood termites.
What Makes Drywood Termites Different
Drywood termites (Incisitermes minor is the most common species in California) are unique because they don’t require soil contact or even moisture to survive. They live entirely inside the wood they consume, and their colonies are entirely self-contained within the infested material. This makes them harder to detect — there are no mud tubes, no obvious soil disturbance, no early warning signs from the ground level.
How Drywood Termites Infest Homes
Drywood termites spread through swarming. Winged reproductive termites emerge from existing colonies, typically in summer and fall, and seek new wood to infest. They enter homes through exposed wood surfaces, gaps around windows and doors, attic vents, and cracks in painted wood surfaces.
Once a pair has established a new colony inside structural wood, they seal the entry point and begin consuming from within. The colony grows slowly for the first few years, which is why damage often isn’t noticed until the infestation is well established.
Signs of Drywood Termite Activity
- Frass (fecal pellets) — hexagonal, sand-like pellets that drywood termites push out of small holes. Often found as small piles below infested wood
- Kick-out holes — tiny round holes in wood surfaces where frass is pushed out
- Discarded wings near windows or light sources after a swarm
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped
Treatment Options
Drywood termite treatment options include whole-structure fumigation (the most comprehensive approach for widespread infestations) and localized treatments for contained infestations. ATCO can assess the extent of your infestation and recommend the most appropriate and cost-effective treatment. Contact us for an inspection.