Desert termites are common in the semi-arid and arid regions of the U.S. Also known as woodlice, desert termites don’t eat wood and are not considered structural pests. Desert termites play a vital environmental role, but may need to be managed in some cases. Here’s how to identify desert termites and how to get rid of them.
What are Desert Termites?
Desert termites, also known as “woodlice” (Gnathamitermes tubiformans), are one of the approximately 10 termite species common to the semi-arid and arid regions of the American Southwest.
While other types of termites in the region cause property damage, desert termites are not considered structural pests. In fact, desert termites do not damage wood and are considered beneficial for the environment, playing a vital role in maintaining local ecosystems.
How to Identify Desert Termites
These are the main visual and behavioral characteristics of desert termites that can help you correctly identify them:
- Desert termite swarmers: Desert termite swarmers have a light brown color and are around 1/2 to 5/8 inch long (about the size of a fingernail).
- Desert termite workers: Like other termites, desert termites also have a worker caste, but they are very hard to distinguish from workers of other species. Desert termite workers are wingless, have a cream-colored body and a brown head, and are about 3/8 inch long, approximately half the size of a penny.
- Swarming season: Desert termites’ swarming season is summer, and they prefer to swarm at sunset after rain events. Swarmers are also known as flying termites and alates.
- Tube construction: Desert termites construct mud tubes and mud sheets (also called “cartons”) on the surfaces of plants, litter, manure (and sometimes fence posts or similar structures).
- Soil preference: Another key aspect of desert termites is that they are mostly present in soils with fine texture, clay, or silt (as pure sand is not suitable for tube construction).
Desert Termites vs. Subterranean Termites
Desert Termite: Cody Hough / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Subterranean Termite: Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org / Wikipedia / CC BY-SA 3.0
Because they dwell in underground galleries and populate the same region, desert termites are often confused with subterranean termites (in the genus Reticulitermes). To correctly identify desert termites and differentiate them from subterranean termites, look at these differences:
| Desert Termites | Subterranean Termites | |
| Size | Desert termite swarmers are 1/2 to 5/8 inch long (larger than subterranean alates). | Subterranean swarmers are 1/2 inch long or less. |
| Color | Desert alates have a light brown body and wings. | Subterranean alates have a dark brown to black body and transparent wings. |
| Swarming behavior | Desert termites swarm after rain in the summer at sunset. | Subterranean termites swarm during the day, from January to April, and also after rain events. |
| Mud tube placement | Desert termites build tubes on plants, manure, litter, or fence posts. | Subterranean termites build their tubes from the soil to wood structures, running up walls, stone foundations, or concrete. |
How to Get Rid of Desert Termites
Desert termites are usually no cause for concern for homeowners, but they can be a problem for farmers. When populations rise, desert termites can reduce the forage of livestock. Although there are no official guidelines on managing them, the Texas A&M Extension offers some advice on how to get rid of desert termites:
- First, evaluate: Before hopping straight to termite control, be aware of the expected forage production of said area. Ask yourself: How much forage in this area is usually consumed by termites? Is the termite infestation severe? Does the cost of the control measures outweigh the value of your forage in dollars per pound?
- Apply pesticides: If you’re set that investing in termite control is the best option, you can try insecticides labeled for other pests in pastures. These insecticides may temporarily control termites. (Note: There are no insecticides that specifically target desert termites.)
- Break up termite tubes: Breaking up termite cartons exposes termites to predators. The dry air is also lethal to them. You can use a light disc or a spring-toothed harrow.
- Maintain good lawn care practices: If you’re dealing with desert termites in your turfgrass, taking control measures is actually not recommended. Good cultural lawn care practices such as appropriate watering and fertilization are usually sufficient to repair any damage desert termites may have caused to your grass.
What Do Desert Termites Eat?
Desert termites have a different diet from termites that are considered structural pests. Instead of eating wood, desert termites eat other plant material. They consume the cellulose contained in the plants, which is digested by protozoans or digestive enzymes present in their digestive systems. (There is no current consensus on which agent helps desert termites’ digestion.)
Live grass plants, legumes, and forbs are the main targets during spring or summer, and come the fall, they’ll start to feed on dead plants, decomposed grasses, leaf litter, and even manure.
A curious note: Desert termites love to feed on buffalograss and blue grama, which can be a problem for homeowners.
The Environmental Role of Desert Termites
Desert termites’ (Gnathamitermes tubiformans) tunneling and feeding behaviors are key elements in their ecosystem. Here’s how these little guys contribute to the environment:
- Improving soil drainage: Desert termites build their nests underground by creating tunnels in the soil. This construction work makes the soil more porous, which improves soil drainage and, consequently, helps plant growth in their arid habitats.
- Providing nutrients to the soil: Desert termites consume litter and dead roots, which will be digested and turned into nitrogen. When desert termites then build cartons with their nitrogen-rich droppings, they end up replenishing the soil with nutrients and providing energy for predators like ants, other insects that eat termites, and skunks.
FAQ About Desert Termites
Where are Desert Termites Found?
Desert termites are common to rangeland of the American Southwest and the states of Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Do Termites Live in the Desert?
Yes, termites live in the desert. Desert termites are pivotal for the ecosystem of the Chihuahuan Desert, for example. Besides the desert termite, other species also live in arid or semi-arid regions, such as subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Additionally, another member of the subterranean group, the arid land subterranean termite (Reticulitermes tibialis), is adapted to the deserts and prairies of the Midwestern United States.
Can Desert Termites Cause Wood Damage?
Desert termites do not cause wood damage. But they can cause other types of damage: When droughts are prolonged, desert termites remove too much soil surface litter, which impairs rather than improves the soil rainfall infiltration capacity.
Desert termites can also eat the forage for livestock, harming farmers’ production. They can also target and damage common lawn turfgrass.
When to Call a Pro
Desert termites, subterranean termites, and drywood termites can all be a bother. If you’re unsure about which types of termites are giving you headaches, contact a local professional.
Don’t know where to find one? Luckily, Pest Gnome is here to connect you to the best termite control professionals in your area. Get in touch today and get rid of these pesky termites.
Main Image Credit: jeridu / Canva Pro / License
