termites

There have been 15 species of termites found in California but only two species need concern homeowners, the subterranean and the drywood termites. Wood is their food source. Both can do great damage to the structural timbers in a residence but the two have different methods of attack. Although the focus of this article is on the drywood termite, familiarity with the subterranean termite is needed.

SUBTERRANEAN TERMITES

The subterranean termite must live in moist soil or where there is a continuous source of moisture. It reaches wood not in direct contact with the soil by building soil tubes up the foundation walls. Thus protected from the desiccating elements it can forage for lignin products on which to feed. These tunnels are easy to spot. Termite inspectors use powerful lights to illuminate the darker areas under the structure to see the tubes. However, foundation cracks, voids in hollow cement blocks and unbended stucco can provide the termites with hidden accesses to their source of food, in this case, the structure.

Subterranean termite colonies are huge, can cover areas a block in size and the colony can number in the millions, all hidden from easy view.

Control of the subterranean termite consists primarily of destroying the tubes and then preventing the termites from reaching the foundation by physical and/or chemical barriers. Fumigation is never used as a control.