Let’s compare the two main types of termites found in the U.S. today: drywood and subterranean termites.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are named for their tendency to build nests underground. They typically enter homes where wood meets the ground. These pests can slip through cracks as narrow as the thickness of a couple of sheets of paper.
They also use the mud tubes they construct to travel from their underground nests into a home’s wood.
- Size: 1/8-3/8 inch.
- Color: Pale cream, dark brown, or black.
- Body Shape: Soft-bodied with a distinct head, thorax, and abdomen.
- Wings: Equal in size, used during their nuptial flight when going to establish new colonies.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites can thrive without direct contact with the ground. They may travel up to a mile in search of a home and establish colonies wherever they find a suitable wood source. They need less moisture to survive than dampwood or subterranean termites.
They are often found in attics, where they infest structural timbers. They may also infest dead or dying shrubs and trees, utility poles, furniture, and fences.
- Size: 3/8-1 inch.
- Color: Pale brown, dark brown, or yellowish tan.
- Body Shape: Distinct head, thorax, and abdomen with a dark exoskeleton.
- Wings: Equal in size, shortly shed after swarming.
Differences Between Drywood And Subterranean Termites
All termites have a reputation for destroying man-made wooden structures. However, not all types are created equal or cause the same amount of damage. Let’s look at some differences between subterranean and drywood termites.
Damage
When taking into account annual damage in the U.S., subterranean termites are the most destructive type. The speed of the damage will also differ between the two types of pests. Subterranean termites will create damage much quicker due to their larger sized colonies.
Colony Size
The average subterranean termite colony is much larger than a drywood termite colony. Subterranean termites typically have colonies in the hundreds of thousands. A species known as the Formosan subterranean termite can have colonies with as many as 2 million pests.
Evidence
Drywood termites will leave tiny holes and droppings outside of wooden structures they’ve invaded. The droppings look like a mix of coffee grounds and pepper. Subterranean termites, meanwhile, will create mud tubes on foundation walls. They create these tubes to travel from the ground to the wood of a structure.
Which Termite Causes More Damage?
Subterranean termites are generally considered more destructive than drywood termites because their colonies are larger and they can reproduce and spread quickly throughout a structure. Because they nest underground, subterranean termites can invade homes in large numbers.
They often remain undetected until substantial damage has occurred. Drywood termites also pose a threat to wooden structures, but their colonies grow more slowly, typically causing less damage overall. Nevertheless, homeowners should act promptly whenever termite damage becomes visible.
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