Termite Photos

What do termites look like – Termite Photo’s

Arizona is home to several species of termites.  In the Metro Phoenix area the most common termite found around homes is our Desert Termite.

Desert subterranean termites prefer to forage in shaded soil or areas made wet by irrigation.

They will readily construct mud shelter tubes up, over or around solid objects in order to reach a timber food source. These mud-tubes are slender, solidly built and pale yellow to tan in color.

A mature colony of Desert subterranean termites may contain 200,000 – 400,000 termites, including a large number of secondary reproductives (queens) that can readily break off from the primary colony to form separate colonies. Desert subterranean termites commonly have a foraging territory of up to almost an acre.

Desert Termites are usually found on wood fences, tree trunks and appear more active after recent rain and/or introduction of moisture to their habitat.  Typically the feed on tree roots below grade level.

Treatment methods for Desert Termites when they invade a structure is the same as our native subterranean species.

Our native species subterranean termite is the most common termite that infests homes in Metro Phoenix.

Native subterranean termites thrive in the urban areas of Phoenix.  They build large colonies, and because their nests are underground they are often hard to detect. From their underground nests, tunnels radiate out in all directions, through which these subterranean termites forage for sources of wood.  Native subterranean termites are pale or whitish in color (perhaps an adaptation for living underground with no light); hence are often called white ants.

Signs of subterranean termites are usually found on the outside stem wall in the form of a shelter tube(s) built from the soil up to the top of the stem wall.

These shelter tubes are usually located on the outside wall that gets the least amount of direct sun and has soil with a higher moisture content.

Shelter tubes appear coming out of the expansion joints constructed up to the top of the stem wall as in the picture to the right.

Darker colored termite tubes are an indication of higher mositure content meaning the infestation is new.  Older tubes appear lighter in color as the soil drys out.

Homeowners should view their outside stem wall and inside garage expansion joints on a regular basis for signs of termite infestation.  Termite shelter tubes can be constructed practically overnight.

Often no signs of termite infestation will be visible in these areas so it is important to inspect the interior of your home for signs of Arizona termite infestation.

Signs of termite infestation to the interior of your home are usually found on the inside of exterior walls or interior walls near plumbing voids and stress cracks.

Damage to wood baseboards that seems to follow the grains of the wood as in the picture to the left.

Small pin-holes in drywall, tubes coming out of baseboards and up walls, or tubes hanging from the ceiling are more common signs of termite activity found on the interior of homes.

Because Arizona subterranean termites need to build shelter tubes to access food sources from their nest it’s important to check suspect areas for signs of the tube(s) or soil.

Crawl space homes provide easy access for subterranean termites to infest a home.  Regular inspections of the crawl space will help detect infestations before severe damage occurs.