Subterranean Termites: How to Identify and Get Rid of Them

There are many types of termites in the United States — approximately 45 species — but subterranean termites are the most economically important, particularly in the Southeastern U.S. and California. In this article, we’ll explain how to identify and get rid of subterranean termites and how to prevent them from returning.

What are Subterranean Termites?

Subterranean termites, the most common type of termite in the U.S., are a nuisance pest in 49 states. The only state they don’t live in is Alaska. Subterranean termites in the U.S. are part of the family Rhinotermitidae and part of the order Blattodea. They are known as the most destructive wood-eating insects in the United States.

Subterranean termites, like all termites, are social insects that live in large colonies. They are most prevalent in warmer Southeastern states, California, and Hawaii. Certain species especially love inhabiting coastal areas since subterranean termites thrive in warm, humid climates.

There are multiple species of subterranean termites commonly found in the United States. These are a few:

• Asian subterranean termites (Coptotermes gestroi)
• Eastern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes)
• Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus)
• Native subterranean termites (Reticulitermes virginicus)
• Western subterranean termites (Reticulitermes hesperus)

Subterranean termites are important to the ecosystem since their ability to break down cellulose into nutrients benefits the environment. However, although they have beneficial attributes, that doesn’t stop them from causing a lot of destruction to homes and buildings.

What Do Subterranean Termites Look Like?

Because subterranean termites are regarded as the most destructive termites in the U.S., you need to be able to identify them.

Subterranean termites vary in appearance depending on their role in the colony. There are three different roles, known as castes, within a termite colony:

• Workers. Workers are the most common termites in a colony. They collect food, take care of the young, and build tunnels.
• Soldiers. Soldier termites defend the colony from insects that pose a threat. These termite warriors are capable of squirting a liquid to fend off predators or using their sharp mandibles to fight off enemy bugs.
• Swarmers. Known as alates or reproductives, termite swarmers are winged subterranean termites that are responsible for laying eggs to keep up the termite population. The king and queen were once swarmers that left their mother colony to create a colony of their own.

Anatomy

A termite’s body is split into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. Unlike ants, who have a thin, pinched waist that segments their thorax and abdomen, with termites, it’s harder to tell where their waist is. 

Here are the features that termites possess:

• 6 legs
• 2 straight antennae
• Swarmers have 4 wings of equal size; they have 2 pairs of wings.
• Soldiers have pronounced mandibles (jaws)
• Wingless termites are usually blind
• Winged termites have some vision

Color

Workers: Worker termites are white or cream-colored. Their skin is slightly translucent.
Soldiers: Soldier termites can range from a pale cream to a light brown color, depending on the species. They can be distinguished from workers because their heads are elongated and darker in color, usually a honey color or a light shade of brown.
Swarmers: Subterranean termite swarmers are usually black or dark brown. They have white wings.
Queen: Subterranean termite queens have large cream-colored abdomens marked with brown stripes. Their abdomen gives them a slug-like appearance. 

Size

Subterranean termites are roughly the size of an ant. The average size of a subterranean termite is 1/8 to 3/8 inch long.

Workers: Measure 1/4 inch or less in length

Soldiers: A soldier’s head is longer than a worker termite’s head. Otherwise, a soldier is similar in size to a worker.
Swarmers: Reproductive termites are typically 3/8 to 1/2 inch long, including wings.
Queens: Both the termite king and queen are larger than the rest of the termites in a colony. Queens have an abdomen that grows over time. It can grow up to 1 inch long.

Life Cycle

Termites vary in appearance depending on the stage of the termite life cycle. In most cases, you will see only adult termites. But in case you find the nest of the termite colony, it helps to know the three life stages of a termite:

1. Egg: Subterranean termite eggs are laid in clusters. Up close, a subterranean termite egg looks like a white, translucent jelly bean. To the human eye, they usually look like a pile of white powder.
2. Nymph: When termites hatch, they are nymphs that look like a smaller version of a mature termite. 
3. Adult: Adult termites are either workers, soldiers, or swarmers, and each role serves a different function within the colony. Adult termites are usually the size of an ant. 

Drywood vs. Subterranean Termites

You might already know you have termites invading your home. But what gets tricky is trying to figure out what species of termite they are. Drywood and subterranean termites are two different types of termite, but they are similar in appearance and can be difficult to tell apart.

Here is a chart that will help you distinguish the traits of the two species of termites:

Drywood termites	Subterranean termites
Make their nests in wooden structures	Nest underground in the soil; some have aerial nests
Get their moisture from wood	Get their moisture from the soil
Prefer dry wood	Attracted to moisture
Larger than subterranean termites	Smaller than drywood termites
Tan wings	White wings

Subterranean termites are more widespread than drywood termites. Subterranean termites can be found in all states except Alaska, whereas drywood termites live mostly in coastal or humid areas.

What Are the Signs of Subterranean Termite Activity?

Each year, property damage caused by termites costs up to $5 billion in repairs and isn’t often covered by home insurance. To avoid a costly repair bill, there are several signs of a termite infestation that you should keep an eye out for:

• Mud tubes or muddy spots on the walls
• Clicking noises coming from the walls
• Peeling or bubbling paint
• Sunken areas of drywall, particularly if the sunken spots have a linear shape
• Blistering or damaged wood 
• Buckling floors
• Holes in the wall or in wooden structures
• Structural damage
• Discarded swarmer wings during late winter, spring, or summer. Termite wings are most likely to be found near entry points like window sills or doorways.
• Wood that sounds hollow when tapped 

Termites like to stay out of sight, so they can be tricky to detect, even while they are wreaking a considerable amount of damage on your home. If you aren’t able to determine if there is a termite colony nesting in your home, get a professional termite inspection.

How to Get Rid of Subterranean Termites

There are multiple ways to get rid of subterranean termites. We’ll walk you through the different strategies and methods you can use to eliminate your termite problem.

Hire a Professional

When you have discovered that your home is infested with termites, the best thing to do is to hire a professional termite exterminator. Licensed professionals are trained to deal with termite infestations, and they have all the equipment and chemicals necessary to treat your home safely.

Homeowners might not know what to look for or how to tell when or if a termite colony has been successfully eradicated. Plus, a DIY termite treatment involves buying the chemicals and equipment necessary for the job with no guarantee of success.

If the termite infestation is in your house, skip the DIY method and hire a pro. Your house is a valuable investment, so give it star treatment and keep it protected by hiring professional services to eliminate all wood-eating pests. 

Termiticide

Chemical insecticides specifically created to eliminate termites are called termiticides. 

Termiticides include ingredients that are lethal to termites, such as:

• Chlorantraniliprole
• Chlorfenapyr
• Fipronil
• Imidacloprid
• Thiamethoxam

Termites will be exposed to a termiticide chemical upon contact, and they can spread the chemical to other termites in the colony. Generally, termiticide has to be applied both inside and outside your house.

• Soil drenches apply termiticide generously around the soil. This involves soaking areas around your foundation in termiticide liquid. 
• To access a termite nest, drilling is sometimes necessary to reach behind drywall, a wood deck, or other infested areas of the home where termites are lurking. Once an opening has been drilled into the wood, termiticide can be pumped into the space.
• Spot-treating areas where termites are most active is another way to kill off a termite colony. 

Termiticides are sold in local hardware stores, nurseries, or feed stores. Be aware that a home’s inhabitants will have to leave the building while a chemical termite killer is being applied. It is especially unsafe for pregnant women or small children to be around the house during a termiticide treatment. 

Termite Barriers

Chemical and physical barriers are two more tools with which you can prevent or rid yourself of this persistent pest.

Chemical Barriers

Fence posts aren’t the only kind of barriers you can erect around your home to protect it from unwanted intruders. When it comes to termite prevention, you can spray a chemical barrier around cracks or possible entry points to protect your home from termite invaders.

Termiticide barriers come in granular, liquid, and foam forms:

• Granular termiticides are spread around the perimeter of the foundation, wooden structures, stacks of firewood, decaying trees or tree stumps, or other problem areas.
• Liquid termiticide is generously applied around your foundation and the soil around the base of your house, where subterranean termites live. 
• Foam termiticides kill termites by paralyzing them. Foam is used as a chemical barrier in entry points, including cracks or crevices in the walls. This type of treatment lasts a month before it needs to be reapplied.

Sometimes lots are pre-treated for termites before construction of the home even starts. Termite post-treatments are also available to treat established houses for subterranean termites.

Physical Barriers

Some homeowners would rather avoid chemical treatments altogether. If that’s you, consider a physical barrier: Particle barriers, stainless steel screening, and membranes are common options. These barriers can be installed during or after construction, depending on the barrier, and block termites that try to sneak into your home.

Termite Bait

Although termite baiting systems are slow-acting, they are an effective long-term solution that kills off a termite colony over time. The only problem is that it will require time for the bait to take effect. Here’s how they work:

1. Termite baits contain cellulose laced with toxins to attract the wood-eating pests. After discovering the bait, termites bring it back to their nest as food.
2. Once the bait has been brought back to the nest, it will affect a large number of termites that eat the bait.
3. Subterranean bait stations usually contain insect growth regulators (IGR) that prevent nymphs from molting. This stops the growth of the colony by killing off the young. Once ingested, the poison in the bait stunts the worker termites’ growth. Worker termites die when they try to molt, which indirectly starves the entire colony.

Termite baiting stations should be spaced out about every 10 feet. Make sure they are set up in places where termites can easily reach and access them.

✓ Pros of termite bait stations: Baiting stations are ideal for homeowners who want to avoid applying chemical treatments or having to drill sections of the wall or other infested structures.

✗ Cons of termite bait stations: Since they can take weeks or months to be effective, the stations require diligent monitoring and a lot of patience. For that reason, termite bait is not enough for treating severe termite infestations. Termite baiting systems should only be used when there is enough time to wait for the bait to take effect.

How to Prevent Subterranean Termites

It may be a nuisance to implement preventative measures to keep your home from turning into a termite’s favorite food source. But prevention is the best way to deal with termites and prevent costly subterranean termite damage to your home.

Luckily, there are some things you can do to make your house less appealing real estate for termites.

Keep Wood Away From the House

Moist firewood attracts termites, so keep wood 20-30 feet away from your house. Also, make sure that wood is stored where it isn’t in contact with the ground. Termites can easily climb on wood sitting on soil and infest the firewood stack. 

Do a survey of your yard to check for objects containing cellulose that might attract termites:

• Cardboard
• Fabric
• Firewood
• Newspapers
• Sticks
• Tree branches
• Tree stumps
• Wood mulch
• Wooden furniture

Regularly clear away sticks or tree limbs that have fallen into your yard. Otherwise, they can become a food source for termites. 

If you use wood mulch in your plant beds, that can bring subterranean termites from your landscaping to the inside of your house. Instead, use inorganic mulch like gravel or rubber mulch.

Treat Outside Wood

Treated wood protects wooden structures from termites. If you have a wooden deck or porch, make sure it is made of treated wood. The same goes for wooden outdoor furniture.

Apply a Termite Pre-Treatment

Before a home is built, have a licensed professional give your lot a termite pre-treatment to prevent these wood-eating bugs from nesting around your future home. A pre-treatment treats soil to get rid of or prevent termites on your home’s property. 

Caulk Cracks

Use caulk to seal off any cracks or openings. Any crevices in your house’s structure will be an inviting pathway that allows termites inside. Repair holes in the walls, floors, or wood of your home as needed. Also check that doorways and windows are sealed.

Control Moisture

You should be concerned if there is water pooling near your foundation. It will attract subterranean termites since moisture provides them with a water source. Here are ways to fix drainage problems in your yard:

• Don’t overwater the grass: If you are having trouble with termites, you might need to cut back on watering your lawn or garden. Overwatering causes water to pool on your lawn, inviting pests, and it isn’t healthy for your turfgrass either.
• Repair leaky faucets or pipes: Moisture attracts subterranean termites, so any dripping water will cultivate ideal conditions for a termite colony to thrive around your home. 

Introduce Beneficial Nematodes

Not all insects are pests — there are beneficial parasitic nematodes you can introduce to your lawn. These beneficial nematodes are roundworms that will help eradicate unwanted pests from your yard, including termites.

Beneficial nematodes are sold in specialist stores, or they can also be purchased online. They are a good natural solution homeowners can use instead of chemical treatments, which aren’t good for the environment.

Have Routine Termite Inspections

To protect your house from termite damage, have annual termite inspections. During these visits, a professional inspector can catch a growing subterranean termite nest early on before the termites cause extensive damage to your home.

For protection against termites, homeowners can also purchase a termite bond. Termite bonds are a termite protection plan, which typically includes an annual termite inspection and termite control if necessary.

Clean Your Gutters

What do gutters have to do with termites? When water and debris become trapped in clogged gutters, the moist conditions and damp, soggy organic material attract termites. 

Water overflowing from the top of the gutters may also cause flooding or increase the amount of water puddling in your yard. These moist conditions cultivate a good environment for a termite colony by providing them with a water source and moist environment. 

Regularly cleaning leaves, sticks, and other debris out of your gutters will help decrease the chances of a subterranean termite infestation.

How Much Does Subterranean Termite Treatment Cost?

Subterranean termite control costs $275 to $863 per treatment. Homeowners can expect to pay an average of $558 to treat their termite problem.

Although subterranean termite treatments may seem costly, repairs for subterranean termite damage will be even more expensive. Termite damage repairs cost an average of $2,600 but may cost more depending on the extent of the damage.

Subterranean termites are one of the most destructive termites, so don’t take your chances. If you have a termite infestation, call a pest control pro right away. For homeowners who aren’t sure if they have a subterranean termite infestation or not, you can always get a termite inspection, which costs $65 to $265 on average. 

FAQ About Subterranean Termites

Do Subterranean Termites Go Away on Their Own?

No, subterranean termites won’t go away on their own. If you have detected termites in your house, you need to find a termite control pro to get rid of them as soon as possible.

Additionally, subterranean termites can live for several years, so waiting for them to die off won’t work. The king and queen of a subterranean termite colony live from 10 to 25 years. 

What Does a Subterranean Termite Nest Look Like?

Subterranean termites build their nests in the soil. While you won’t see the underground termite nest, you might see subterranean termite tubes made out of mud, wood particles, and saliva built along walls or the foundation of your home. Termites use these mud tunnels to access food and water sources above ground. They can be built both inside and outside of a building.

Do Subterranean Termites Eat Treated Wood?

Treated wood is infused with chemical preservatives that create a termite-resistant barrier. These preservatives help prevent it from being eaten by subterranean termites. 

Unfortunately, while the treated wood is resistant to these pests, termites can build mud tubes over the treated wood to get access to untreated wood. And over the years, treated wood loses the protective chemical, leaving it vulnerable to termites, especially when it’s damp or wet.

What Other Bugs Look Like Termites?

Ants are commonly mistaken for termites. Due to their small size and similar appearance, ants and termites can sometimes be hard to tell apart. Carpenter bees and powderpost beetles are other bugs that look like termites.

Termites also look similar to maggots, since they have a similar white, translucent appearance, although a termite’s movement is much different than a maggot’s movement. 

When to Call a Pest Control Professional

Homeowners should call a pest control company if signs of a subterranean termite colony have appeared. Additionally, it’s best to have a routine annual inspection to make sure there aren’t any undetected termites in your home. Termites aren’t always easily detectable, and sometimes they sneak into your home without your knowing.

If you need a termite inspection or treatment, Pest Gnome can help you find a termite control pro today.

Main Photo Credit: Ryan Watson / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0

Editorial Contributors

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  Danielle Gorski

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  Danielle Gorski lives with her family in Texas. She has a degree in Professional Studies and a minor in marketing. Her hobbies include reading, drawing, and writing.

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  Sarah Bahr

  Editor

  Sarah is a writer who has previously worked in the lawn care industry. In her spare time, she likes to garden, create mosquito traps out of five-gallon buckets, and use chickens for pest control in the backyard.

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