Drywood Termite | Pest ID Guide
Quick Facts About Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are destructive pests that infest wooden structures throughout Tennessee homes and businesses. Unlike other pests that require food and water sources, your home’s wooden features are both food and shelter for these persistent insects.- Size: Approximately 12 millimeters (workers)
- Color: Pale brown to tan
- Shape: Long, slender body with large jaws (workers)
- Active Season: Year-round in Tennessee
- Lifespan: Several years
- Reproduction Rate: Colonies grow slowly but steadily
What Do Drywood Termites Look Like?
Drywood termites in Tennessee vary in appearance based on their role in the colony. Worker termites make up the majority of the colony and have pale brown to tan colored bodies with powerful jaws designed for tunneling through wood. Soldiers have similar coloring but feature significantly larger, dark brown heads for colony defense. Reproductive swarmers (alates) are distinctive with their wings that enable them to establish new colonies.Key Identifying Features
- Pale brown to tan coloration with worker termites measuring around 12mm long
- Large, powerful jaws on workers used for tunneling through and consuming wood
- Soldiers with enlarged dark brown heads that distinguish them from other colony members
- Winged reproductive termites (swarmers) that may be visible during certain times of year
- Distinctive damage patterns within wooden structures, often hidden from plain sight
Related Species
Dampwood termites are related to drywood termites but prefer moist, decaying wood near ground level. Unlike drywood termites that can infest any wooden structure throughout your home, dampwood termites typically stay closer to moisture sources. Subterranean termites are another related species that require soil contact and build mud tubes to access wooden structures.
Health & Property Risks
Health Concerns
While drywood termites don’t pose direct health threats like some pests, their presence can lead to significant structural issues that create unsafe living conditions.
- No known disease transmission but can create unsafe structural conditions
- Wood dust and debris from their activity may aggravate respiratory conditions
- Stress and anxiety from dealing with extensive property damage
Property Damage
Drywood termites can cause extensive and expensive damage to wooden structures throughout your home or business if left untreated.
- Hollow wooden structures that may collapse or break unexpectedly
- Damaged support beams that can compromise structural integrity
- Ruined hardwood flooring, furniture, and decorative wooden features
- Weakened wall structures that may lead to costly repairs
Where to Look for Dampwood Termites in Your Home
Drywood termites can infest virtually any wooden element in your Tennessee home or business. Unlike dampwood termites, they don’t require proximity to ground moisture and can establish colonies anywhere wood is present.- Attics and roof structures
- Interior walls and wooden support beams
- Hardwood flooring throughout your home
- Wooden furniture and decorative elements
- Exterior siding and wooden trim
- Window and door frames
When to Call Professional Help
Professional intervention is necessary at the first sign of drywood termite activity, as these pests create extensive networks inside wooden structures that are difficult to eliminate without specialized equipment and techniques. Warning signs include small piles of pellet-shaped droppings (frass), hollow-sounding wood, tiny exit holes in wooden surfaces, or sightings of winged swarmers. Because drywood termites damage wood from the inside out, by the time visible signs appear, significant damage may have already occurred.
