It is important to understand the pest you are dealing with before termite treatment. In this blog, we look at subterranean vs drywood termites., and the differences between the two
Termites are troublesome creatures and are a piece of major bad news for your home and its pieces of furniture.
These insects live in big colonies and are capable of destroying almost all wooden possessions and parts in your home. Thus, it is crucial to know how to deal with these insects and eliminate them.
There are three common types of termites found in the US: damp wood, subterranean, and dry wood termites. In this article, we will talk about dry wood and subterranean termites.
We will focus on the major differences between the two and how you can identify them to take the proper measure to get rid of them from your homes.
Subterranean Vs Drywood Termites
What Are Drywood Termites?
Drywood termites are a member of the termite family that are usually seen living in dry wooden structures like home furniture, banisters, wooden picture frames, and more.
These types of termites live deep inside wooden structures and rarely come out to the surface. They live in smaller colonies that consist of fewer than 1,000 insects.
If you spot a dry wood termite, it is probably a flying adult commonly known as a swarmer.
What Are Subterranean Termites?
A subterranean termite is a type of termite that is known to have nests and colonies built within the soil.
You will be fascinated to know that these social insects live in colonies that are divided in classes based on their work.
The settlements are divided into three types: reproductives, worker termites, and soldier termites. Each type performs specific duties, which we will discuss in detail in the upcoming sections.
Difference Between Drywood and Subterranean Termites
Despite both of them being members of the termite family, the dry wood and subterranean termites have notable differences.
Their physical appearance, nesting habits, where they live, and what signs to look out for are all unique. Let us take a look at these differences closely.
Appearance
One thing you will immediately notice is the stark difference in the wings.
The subterranean termite shows a single vein that goes parallel to the edge of the wings
The dry wood termite has a series of veins on the top edge of the wing.
Unfortunately, both types of termites will lose their wings as soon as they land in your territory. That makes their body ideal for crawling into food sources.
Hence this type of differentiation is not easy to make once they have established their colonies.
Another thing to watch out for when you see these two species is that drywood termites are bigger in size compared to subterranean termites.
Drywood termites have a dark brown colored body, and the subterranean termite holds a dark brown-black shade.
Lastly, the head of drywood termites is orange, whereas that of the subterranean species is dark or black in color.
Nesting Habits
Subterranean termites are known to build underground nests for the growth of their colonies.
Drywood termites, on the other hand, build nests inside their food source, which is mainly dry wood that they obtain from indoor furniture, photo frames, and more.
As mentioned above, it is difficult to find drywood termites out in the open as they live inside the wood.
But you can track a drywood termite nest by the presence of the common sign of micro wooden pellets that look like sawdust near their nests.
Subterranean termites are known to build nests with mud tunnels that link them directly to the food source. This also serves to give them adequate protection from predators.
Colony Size
Drywood termite colonies are small; each territory has fewer than 1000 individuals residing.
Subterranean termites live in enormous colonies that are divided according to a working-class system. The settlement has three types of termites: reproductives, soldiers, and workers.
Workers occupy a significant fraction of the population as they are responsible for the building and food collecting jobs.
The soldiers are comparatively fewer in numbers and are known to provide protection to the colony. Reproductives are tasked with continuing the colony and making it grow.
Damage
Both these types of termites are capable of doing extensive damage to your home.
But due to large numbers, the subterranean termites can cause more damage and do it faster than the drywood termites.
Subterranean termite colonies can have as many as 60,000 workers at a time, picking out your wood and causing damage to it.
Treatment
While both these termites can cause significant harm to your home, it is essential to use the correct treatment process.
Drywood termite infestation is comparatively easier to treat (because their colonies are smaller), and most pest control professionals will eliminate a whole colony using common termiticides.
The subterranean termite infestation is a little harder to handle. You can use Sentricon to get rid of them. Here, a worker termite consumes a poisoned bait and returns to the nest to infect the colony. This poison slowly kills the termites by making them unable to eat and breed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is worse, drywood termites or subterranean termites?
Subterranean termites are capable of causing more severe and do it faster to your house furniture compared to drywood termites.
One of the main reasons behind it is the fact that drywood termites live in smaller colonies, while the subterranean termites are greater in number.
How can you tell if you have subterranean or drywood termites?
Subterranean termites use mud tunnels that connect the nest to the food source. So if you notice such mud tunnels existing in your home, it is the subterranean termite.
If you find micro-wooden pellets like sawdust in some corners of your house, it indicates the presence of drywood termites.
Will subterranean termites eat dry wood?
Subterranean termites usually prefer eating the soft part of the wood, which is commonly found in the grain.
These termites also like to chew on softwood like pine. They obtain cellulose from the wood, which is later converted into nutrients by enzymes in their body.
Are subterranean termites harmful?
Subterranean termites are known to cause significant damage to your wooden furniture. They use their saw-toothed jaws to carve through your home furniture.
A small colony of these termites can have around 60,000 workers and can consume around ⅕ ounces of wood on a daily basis.
Where do termites live?
Subterranean termites live in contact with soil. They make mud tubes with a mixture of soil and saliva to connect their nests with wood structures, including softwood furniture, wooden support beams, and more.
The drywood termites directly reside inside the food source and are known to damage the furniture in your house silently.
Wrap Up
Termites can be problematic to deal with, be it the drywood termite or the subterranean termite. You must know them properly in order to deal with them effectively.
We hope this blog has helped you understand these creatures well and equipped you to handle them properly.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article!
3 Comments. Leave new
Termites are Delicious! They — especially the alates — are much esteemed in many African countries, and I had some this summer that were collected in Louisiana. They were netted at a mercury vapor lamp and saved for me, about a pound of them. I’d love to get a steady supply…
Dave
http://www.slshrimp.com
SWEEEET! Did you know that at the Great Insect Fair has mealworms and larvae and crickets you can eat. AT PENN STATE CAMPUS
Please continue to send me “What’s That Bug?” It is fascinating for an old amateur entomologist!