Subterranean Termites:

Scientific Terms: ‘Reticulitermes Flavipes’, ‘Reticulitermes virginicus’, ‘Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki’

Subterranean termites are social insects that mainly live in underground colonies who travel above ground for their food source through tunnels often called mud tubes. They are mainly seen below the stucco on homes or in crawl spaces beneath the house. They feed on wood and other cellulose based materials. They have jaws that can be described as scissors, cutting through wood with ease 24/7.

Signs and wood damage:

The tell tail sign of a subterranean termite infestation is the presence of mud tubes. Prevalent places for mud tubes are, but are not limited to, below the stucco on the exterior of the structure, crawl spaces, and basements.

Damage caused by subterranean termites can be identified clearly since they feed on the soft parts of the wood. The damage will always be along the grain and will never cross over or cross specific hard spots on the wood such as knots. If you have any questions about Subterranean Termites, please refer to our Termite FAQ Page, or Contact Us at Desert Termites!