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101 Exterminators Inc.
Two termite reports can name the same damaged board and call for different work. The species changes where an inspector looks and what a treatment must reach. Drywood termites live within wood. Common subterranean termites nest in soil and reach wood through shelter tubes or hidden paths. A surface clue starts the search but does not show all affected wood.
Clues that point toward drywood termites
Drywood colonies can live in sound, dry wood without soil contact. Inspectors look for insects, shed wings, small holes where pellets fall out, and hard pellets with six sides. Pellets may fall from a hidden gallery. UC warns that pellets alone cannot tell whether activity is current or how far it reaches. Photograph the pellets and where they fell before cleaning. Ask what other signs support the finding.
Clues that point toward subterranean termites
Common subterranean termites use soil moisture and often build shelter tubes to reach wood above ground. Tubes on a foundation or other surface are a useful clue, though the inspector must check activity and access. Moisture and wood-to-ground contact can raise concern, but those conditions alone do not prove an infestation. Note leaks and damp areas without entering an unsafe crawl space.
Swarmers do not locate every colony
Termite swarmers have straight-looking antennae, a broad waist, and front and rear wings of similar length. Flying ants have a pinched waist and shorter rear wings. Save an intact sample. UC describes drywood swarms mainly in summer and fall and common subterranean flights after soaking spring or fall rains, but neither the date nor an insect found indoors shows where the colony is. Show the inspector any place you watched insects emerge.
Why the species changes the proposal
Fumigation can reach drywood termites in hidden wood within the tented building. It does not repair wood or guard against new termites later. A spot treatment must reach the colony the inspector found. Subterranean termites live in soil, so tenting the house alone does not control that colony. Ask the inspector to tie the plan to the species and signs in the report.
Where the report stops
A visual inspection covers accessible areas. Finished walls, stored items, locked rooms, and unsafe spaces can limit what is seen. Ask which spaces were closed and whether a closer look would change the plan. A single photo of pellets or a tube should not be turned into a claim about the entire building.
A clear decision to request
The written report should tell you what was identified, where it was found, what was inaccessible, and why the recommended scope follows. If drywood treatment is proposed, our localized versus whole-structure guide helps compare the options. If a swarm prompted the visit, keep the sample with your inspection notes.
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Are termite pellets proof of a live drywood colony?
No. UC says pellets alone cannot show current activity or how far termites have spread. An inspector should evaluate them with other evidence.
Will fumigation control subterranean termites?
A structural fumigation does not control a colony in the soil. Ask how the proposed work addresses the identified termite and its route into the building.
Can I identify the species by the month of a swarm?
Season can help, but timing overlaps and varies with weather. Keep an intact insect sample for identification.
Sources
- Drywood termites: signs and treatment limits · UC Statewide IPM Program
- Subterranean and other termites: signs and management · UC Statewide IPM Program
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Publisher
101 Exterminators Inc.
Based in Salinas, we serve Monterey, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Santa Clara, San Mateo, San Francisco, and Alameda counties. This article offers general guidance; an inspection is needed for property-specific findings.
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