Don’t let their small size fool you—termites can cause costly damage to homes and business as they eat, breed, and build nests inside wooden structures. Two of the most common types are ground and drywood termites. Here’s what you need to know about their differences to get the right termite control for your property. 

Ground Termites

Also known as subterranean termites, these insects build their living quarters underground. Termite control technicians identify the insects by their large, brown or yellow heads. Other castes have either black or dark brown body colors. 

Ground termites need moisture to survive. Using a combination of their saliva, feces, soil, and wood particles, they create mud tubes in the damp underground, providing the ideal environment to look for food. They mostly eat wood and cellulose, so their tunnels are often found along a home’s foundation.

Drywood Termites

As their name implies, drywood termites prefer to live in wooden structures. They feast on soft and hard pieces of wood, especially along the grain. Like ground termites, the drywood species needs humid conditions to survive.

While drywood termites are larger than ground termites, they have similar white, brown, and black body coloring. However, some of the insects are translucent.

You can tell an infestation is present when you find small piles of fecal matter on floors and other surfaces near wooden structures. Known as frass, the termite waste resembles sawdust mixed with tiny dark pellets. 

If you spot signs of either species around your property, turn to Pest Tech Hawaii. Based in Honolulu, the firm serves all of Oahu with superior fumigation applications and other termite control techniques. They also provide maintenance plans to help keep your property safe year-round. Call (808) 784-2847 to schedule a termite inspection today, or visit the website for their full lineup of pest control services.