Drywood Termite

📐 FIELD GUIDE ILLUSTRATION

Original illustration by PestControlBasics.com. Use anatomical labels above to confirm your identification.

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PestControlBasics Editorial Team

Reviewed by Derek Giordano · Updated 2026

🔍 Identification

Workers and soldiers similar to other termites. The key ID: frass (droppings) is distinctive — tiny, elongated, 6-sided pellets that look like mustard seeds. Found in small piles below kick-out holes (1-2mm round holes in wood surfaces). Alates: 12-15mm; reddish-brown; swarm in fall in California or year-round in Hawaii.

🧬 Biology & Behavior

Establish entirely within wood — no mud tubes, no soil connection. Colonies small (few thousand workers) but multiple colonies can infest the same structure. Found primarily in coastal California, Hawaii, Florida, Gulf Coast.

⚠️ Damage & Health Risk

Slow structural damage over years; furniture and flooring damage; attic beam damage. Multiple independent colonies can be widespread throughout a structure.

🔧 DIY Treatment

Localized: Boracare (bare wood only) or heat treatment. Widespread: fumigation (Vikane) is the only treatment reaching all galleries simultaneously. Surface sprays are ineffective — they can't penetrate to where termites work.

👷 When to Call a Pro

Drywood termite treatment almost always requires a licensed professional — fumigation requires specific licensing, equipment, and clearance testing.

❓ FAQ

How do I know if I have drywood or subterranean termites?

Drywood: no mud tubes; frass pellets (tiny 6-sided granules) below holes in wood; no soil access needed. Subterranean: mud tubes on foundation; always soil-connected; no visible frass pellets. Location and mud tube presence settles this in most cases.

What does drywood termite frass look like?

Tiny, uniform, hexagonal pellets about 1mm long — often compared to small seeds or poppy seeds. Piles of this frass below wood surfaces are the most reliable sign. Each frass pellet is a perfect hexagonal prism — truly distinctive.

Factor	Details
U.S. Range	All 49 continental U.S. states
Regional Detail	Highest in Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Pacific Coast. Lowest risk in upper Midwest and Mountain states.

Factor

Details

U.S. Range

All 49 continental U.S. states

Regional Detail

Highest in Southeast, Gulf Coast, and Pacific Coast. Lowest risk in upper Midwest and Mountain states.

📅 Treatment Timing Guide

Treating at the right time dramatically improves results. Pest control timed to the life cycle uses less product and achieves better long-term control.

Period	Action
Year-round	Annual professional inspection. No 'off season' for termite activity.
March–May	Swarmer season — primary visible sign of colony presence.
Spring/Fall	Optimal timing for soil treatments and bait station placement.

Period

Action

Year-round

Annual professional inspection. No 'off season' for termite activity.

March–May

Swarmer season — primary visible sign of colony presence.

Spring/Fall

Optimal timing for soil treatments and bait station placement.

💰 Professional Treatment Costs

Service Type	DIY Cost	Professional Cost
Initial inspection	Free (self-inspect)	$75–$150 (often credited to treatment)
One-time treatment	$30–$100 in materials	$150–$500
Annual service contract	N/A	$400–$900/year
Severe infestation	Often ineffective alone	$500–$2,500+

Service Type

DIY Cost

Professional Cost

Initial inspection

Free (self-inspect)

$75–$150 (often credited to treatment)

One-time treatment

$30–$100 in materials

$150–$500

Annual service contract

N/A

$400–$900/year

Severe infestation

Often ineffective alone

$500–$2,500+

Prices vary by region, property size, and infestation severity.

❓ Common Questions About 🪵 Drywood Termite

How do I confirm I actually have this pest (not something similar)?

The most reliable confirmation is a physical specimen — capture one and compare to reference images on this page. For cryptic pests (bed bugs, termites), look for secondary signs: frass, shed skins, mud tubes, or bites with a specific pattern. When uncertain, a professional inspection is faster than months of misidentification.

Can I treat this myself or do I need a professional?

DIY is effective for small, accessible infestations caught early. Professionals are worth the cost when: the infestation is inside wall voids or structural elements, multiple rooms are affected, you have health-risk pests (hantavirus, venomous species), or DIY has already failed twice.

How long until the infestation is completely gone?

Expect 3–8 weeks for most infestations with proper treatment. Insects with dormant life stages (pupae, eggs) extend the timeline because those stages are impervious to most insecticides. Follow-up treatments at 2 and 4 weeks catch each new cohort as they emerge.

What's the most common mistake people make treating this pest?

Treating only the visible pest population while ignoring the harborage site, entry point, or breeding location. Killing adults provides temporary relief but the population rebuilds from hidden egg cases, pupae, or new arrivals through unaddressed entry points.

🪵 Drywood Termite