Drywood Termites
What Every Homeowner, Realtor & Property Manager Needs to Know About Drywood Termites
We Take the Bite out of Termites!
Whether you’re a homeowner, realtor, or property manager, you’ll be hard pressed to encounter a headache like the one that comes along with a termite infestation—especially if you don’t have access to a dependable termite control company.
If you suspect a termite infestation, please contact us for a termite
inspection by our certified and licensed professional inspectors.
(Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
What are Drywood Termites?
In the San Francisco Bay Area, the main types of termites are drywood termites, subterranean termites, and occasionally dampwood termites. Unlike subterranean termites, which live in the soil, drywood termites do not require soil contact and can start infestation in the wood of your home.
Drywood termites typically enter homes through cracks and gaps, where they begin to consume wood from the inside out. Eliminating these termites can be challenging, as a single home may host multiple colonies.
What Exactly do Drywood Termites do?
It’s pretty easy to sum it up—termites eat wood, tirelessly, 24 hours a day, no holidays or vacations.
If your home is built out of wood (most homes are in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties), it will get termites. We can’t predict when, but termites are a force of nature – their job is to eat dead wood.
The first signs of a drywood termite infestation are what are called “kick-out” holes and deposits of pellets.
These deposits are comprised of tiny grains or pellets that you’ll begin to notice in areas of infestation. The pellets are very small (about the size of poppy seeds) and vary in color from light to dark, depending on what part of the wood grain the termites are eating.
Here are the termite droppings very close up:
Many people mistake these deposits for chewed up wood, but they are tiny piles of fecal matter left by the termites.
Drywood Termite Droppings/Frass (Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
You’ll find these droppings under or around wood structures in small piles that will look similar to this:
Drywood termites will eat into any part of your house that is made of wood—siding, trim, rafters, hardwood floors, and even furniture.
Drywood Termite Droppings/Frass
What Does Franz Termite do to Solve the Problem?
Whatever it takes.
There are two proven methods of exterminating drywood termites:
Which option is best for your situation depends on a number of factors that are specific to your home, your preferences and how extensive the infestation has grown. Once we perform a termite inspection of your home, our inspector will discuss the pros and cons of the available options.
Drywood Termite Treatment Options
Fumigation / Tenting
When people think of termite extermination, they often envision fumigation. It is the most effective method for eradicating drywood termites, especially in cases of extensive or hard-to-reach infestations. We provide a three-year warranty with our fumigation services, ensuring thorough eradication of all drywood termites.
You may not need to fumigate in all cases!
For localized infestations, spot treatment is an ideal solution. This approach targets specific areas where the infestation is identifiable and accessible. Treatment material is injected into small holes drilled into the wood and termite tunnels. We offer a one-year limited guarantee on local treatments, protecting the treated areas.
Note: that fumigation is NOT appropriate to get rid of subterranean termites.
There are Pros & Cons to each Method.
Fumigation
PROS
- Complete eradication of drywood termites throughout the entire structure.
- Safe and effective – fumigation with Vikane has been around for over 50 years!
- No residue left after treatment.
- Does not require drilling into wood members.
- Three- year extendable warranty.
Local Treatment
PROS
- No move-out required
- Minimal preparation work
- No plant trimming or roof damage
- Usually less cost than fumigation
CONS
- Occupants must vacate for two nights.
- May require significant preparation work (bag or remove food, plant trimming, etc.)
CONS
- Not a whole house solution. Spot treatment may not reach hidden infestations.
- Effectiveness and warranty is limited to specific areas treated.
Which Treatment is Right for you? It Depends…
- If you want to be sure that ALL drywood termites have been eradicated and have a three year extendable warranty – then fumigation is the solution.
- If you have extensive infestation in multiple areas, or hard to reach areas, then fumigation is probably the best solution.
- If you have had a full inspection and drywood termites have been found in only one or two accessible areas or isolated areas – then local treatment may be a good option.
- If you live in attached building (condo townhouse or apartment) then local treatment may be the only viable option.
- If your building has a fragile roof or extensive plants growing on the building (vines, trellis, etc.) – then local treatment may be the least intrusive option.
The decision is yours.
Franz Termite Control will give you all the information you need to make the decision that best suits your needs. We are here to answer all your questions and provide professional expert service to help you get rid of your termites.
After the Treatment – Damage Repair
Once we’ve exterminated all of your termites, we will also repair the damage done by the pests.
If caught early enough, damage will be minimal, requiring little to no repair.
If the problem was more extensive, however, repairs can, likewise, be more extensive; in some extreme cases, expensive repair is required.
Read more about termite damage repair
Drywood Termite Damage
(Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
Bottom line: if you want to keep termites from significantly damaging your home, you need to act quickly at the first sign of their presence.
More about Drywood Termites
Drywood termites are found in coastal regions, particularly warm climates that don’t have harsh, freezing temperatures. The conditions in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, the counties we service, are ideal for them to thrive.
Drywood Termite Workers (Left) and Soldiers
(Right) (Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
Identifying Drywood Termites
These termites are larger than their Northern California relatives, the subterranean termites. They can reach up to 1/2 inch long for reproductive groups and a bit shorter, around 3/8 inches, for the termite soldiers.
Drywood Termites (left to right): worker, reproductive (swarmer), soldier
(Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
They are cylindrically shaped, with 6 legs and a light brown color. If the termites are swarming, they will have 4 equal sized wings that continue beyond the body.
During this swarming phase, they mate and find new areas to form new colonies. The colony size slowly grows into maturity. Drywood termites swarm in August and September, usually during very warm weather.
Drywood Termite Swarmers
(Image: University of Arizona – Entomology)
Drywood termite swarmers will shed their wings, so dead swarmers will most frequently be found with discarded wings. This is in contrast to subterranean termite swarmers which will often be found with the wings still attached.
The drywood termite swarmers, upon leaving their original colony, will attempt to immediately find sound, dry wood to form a new colony. They will enter the new wooden structure through cracks, natural checks, overlapping or adjoining pieces and exposed grain at the end of the member.
A new colony of drywood termites will develop relatively slowly when compared to other termite species.
Drywood termite colonies will continue to increase in size, so it’s important to take measures to control them and remove or minimize potential future colony homes.
Contact Franz Termite Control for a termite inspection report and for professional help and recommendations for your particular home.
Franz Termite Guarantee
If they come back, so do we. We stand by our work and it shows. Your home will be termite-free.
0+0+0+
Request an Estimate, Inspection, or Just ask a Question
Don’t delay! Get in touch with us today.
If your home hasn’t been inspected in a couple years or you suspect you have termites, contact us for a
consultation and inspection.
Have rot damage or a new construction project? Get in touch with our consultants to learn more about our
process and options.
- (650) 493-0445
- info@franztermite.com
- 4041 Transport St. Palo Alto, CA 94303