Arizona Termite Information
Arid Land Subterranean Termite
The Arid Land subterranean termite is commonly found from the Pacific Ocean coastline to the central Untied States. It is also found from Montana and Washington into southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Mississippi.

This termite does cause structural damage in cities of higher elevation such as Santa Fe and Albuquerque, NM. They can also attack native shrubs and bushes as well as timber, fences, buildings, etc. The Arid Land subterranean termite can be found in habitats at sea level (sand dunes, etc) and in areas at altitudes of 7,000 feet or more in mountain states. However, these termites can also be found in riparian river-based lowlands, along streams, in canyons and can be widespread in prairies and desert areas.

Swarming
Arid Land Subterranean termites may swarm at different times of the year based upon elevation. Colonies located below 4000 ft. may swarm between January and March (southern states). However, above 4000 ft. the termites may swarm in June or July. Swarms have been seen in the area of northern New Mexico in February by local sources. Winged swarmers are about 1/3” long. The wings are an off-white color with brown veins in the front area. The swarmer insects are black to dark brown in color.

 

Desert Subterranean Termites
If you are experiencing problems with Desert Subterranean termites, it’s highly probable that you are living in an area of the country that experiences dry or even arid conditions. In fact, Desert Subterranean termites are commonly distributed throughout the lower deserts of northwestern Mexico, southern California and southern Arizona. Desert Subterranean termites will openly build very narrow, free-hanging tubes from ceilings, shelves and overhangs. Don’t be surprised if you see tubes as long as six to 12 inches in length. These tubes are often reused by these termites even when there is no feeding activity. Size of foraging tubes does not necessarily equate to “damage.”

There are a few important facts you should understand about the behavior of Desert Subterranean termites compared to more common subterranean termite species:

  • Desert Subterranean termites are able to survive in drier conditions than more common subterranean termite species.
  • Their small size and ability to forage under dry conditions allows them to occupy a niche not exploited by other subterranean termite species.
  • Soldiers of DST’s are characterized by their slender and straight mandibles, in contrast to the relatively thick, curved mandibles of more common subterranean termite species.

Swarming
Desert Subterranean termites may swarm at night during the rainy season, from July to September, usually after rainfalls.

Termites are most visible to homeowners when they’re swarming. Still, without proper defense, termites can damage a home 365 days of the year. In fact, you could have an active termite infestation in your home and never see a swarm. Contact your pest professional to learn more about preventing and/or stopping termites from damaging your home.

Drywood Termites
Drywood termites live in dry, sound wood and derive their moisture requirements from the wood they consume. Infestations can occur in structural timbers in buildings, pieces of furniture, flooring, doors and doorframes, window trim, wooden picture frames, and other isolated pieces of wood. Drywood colonies are usually relatively small with a few thousand members (subterranean termite colonies may number in the 10,000’s to even millions). However, a structure may house multiple drywood colonies in the same structure.

Drywood termites do not need a connection to soil. They construct large, irregular tunnels that run across and with the wood grain, connected by openings small enough for one termite to pass through. The sure sign of Drywood termite feeding is their fecal pellets, which are ejected from the galleries found within the damaged wood. These pellets are quite distinctive: they are hard, elongated-ovals with rounded ends, and have six concave sides.

There are a few important facts you should understand about the behavior of Drywood termites compared to subterranean termite species:

  • Approximately 400 global species of Drywood termite species are known, but only a few species are important in the United States.
  • Powderpost or “furniture” termites are smaller in size than other Drywood termites. Their feeding in furniture or movable wooden objects can reduce wood to a fine powder. They can be found in Florida, southern Louisiana, Texas, Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. They mainly infest furniture or structural timber.
  • The Western Drywood termite is found in southern California, Arizona, Utah, and has become established in Florida. This species infests both dead sections of living trees and wooden articles in homes. The Western Drywood termite swarm period may be midday on warm, sunny days and may occur from September-October. However, in Arizona, swarming may occur at night in July.
  • The Southeastern Drywood termite is found primarily in seven southeastern states, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas. This species may swarm at night, peaking between 8-10 pm, and is attracted to lights. The peak time period for swarming may be late May through mid-June.
  • The Desert Drywood termite occurs mainly in AZ and CA in more arid areas. They can readily infest structures and may swarm at dusk/night, usually after a rain event during May to early Sept. The swarmers are also attracted to lights.

Termites are most visible to homeowners when they’re swarming. Still, without proper defense, termites can be damaging a home 365 days of the year. In fact, you could have an active termite infestation in your home and never see a swarm. Contact your pest professional to learn more about preventing termites from damaging your home.

Formosan Subterranean Termites
Formosan Subterranean termites are one of several termite species that threaten homes and other structures in Hawaii and parts of the southern half of the continental United States. Originally from Mainland China, Formosan Subterranean termites have been established in the continental U.S. for only about 50 years. In fact, they are more vigorous and aggressive than native termites. In fact, the Formosan Subterranean termite has been called the “Super termite” because of its tendency to support large colonies and its ability to consume large amounts of wood in a relatively short time.

A mature colony of Formosan termites can number in the millions and consume as much as 13 ounces of wood per day. As a result, they can severely damage a structure in as little as three months. Formosan Subterranean termites are most visible during their swarming or mating flight. However, they actually cause more damage after the swarm is over. For this reason, it’s extremely important to have your home inspected and protected by a pest professional as soon as you find out that you have Formosan termites on your property.

There are a few important facts you should understand about the behavior of Formosan termites:

  • Formosan colonies can be big. While native subterranean termite colonies support an average of 300,000 workers, Formosan colonies can average millions of workers, and Formosan queens can produce 1,000 eggs a day.
  • A Formosan colony can forage an area more than one acre in diameter.
  • As Formosans infest a structure, they use soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces to build hard nests called cartons. These can be located in trees or within walls. Large cartons can actually cause walls to bulge. These nests can house thousands of termites as well as provide moisture to the colony. Once established, colonies can live without direct soil contact.
  • Formosan termites can also infest, damage and possibly destroy otherwise healthy trees.
  • Soldiers comprise about 10 percent of the colony.
  • Formosans will even penetrate through some non-wood materials. They have been known to chew through plaster, plastics, asphalt, and even thin sheets of soft metals like lead and copper.

Swarming
Formosan Subterranean termite swarmers are larger than native species. They may swarm in the evening and later in the year (May-June), and are strongly attracted to lights. You may see the swarmers near the porch light, windows, doors, etc. Swarms may come from an attic space into the home through vents/openings in the ceiling, as these termites are attracted to lights.

Termites are most visible to homeowners when they’re swarming. Still, without protection termites can damage structures throughout the year. In fact, you could have an active termite infestation in your home and never see a swarm. Contact your pest professional to learn more about preventing and/or stopping termites from damaging your home.

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