Drywood termites are the second major termite species threatening Bay Area homes, and in some ways they’re even more difficult to detect than their subterranean cousins. Here’s a comprehensive overview of drywood termites in the Bay Area.
How Drywood Termites Are Different
The key distinction: drywood termites don’t need soil or moisture. They live entirely within the wood they consume, making a colony completely self-contained inside your home’s structure. There are no mud tubes, no obvious soil disturbance — the infestation is hidden inside the wood itself.
Swarming Season
Drywood termites swarm primarily in late summer and fall in the Bay Area — typically August through November. Winged reproductive termites (swarmers) emerge from existing colonies and fly to find mates and new wood to infest. They’re attracted to light and are often found near windows and light fixtures after a swarm event.
If you find piles of tiny wings near windows or doors in fall, you may have drywood termite activity in or very near your structure.
Signs to Look For Year-Round
- Frass: Hexagonal, sand-like fecal pellets pushed out of tiny holes in wood. Often accumulate as small piles below infested wood — on windowsills, below furniture, or on counters.
- Kick-out holes: Tiny round holes in painted or unpainted wood surfaces where frass is ejected.
- Hollow-sounding wood: Interior damage before any exterior signs appear.
Treatment Options
Localized treatment (injection of termiticide into infested areas) works for contained infestations. Whole-structure fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride is the most comprehensive treatment for widespread infestations throughout a home. A thorough inspection is the first step — ATCO can assess the extent of activity and recommend the most appropriate approach. Contact us for an inspection.