How To Get Rid Of Drywood Termites

Drywood Termite Control: How To Get Rid of Drywood Termites

Drywood Termites are a lesser-known species of termite, accounting for only 10%termite problems and wood destruction to homes in the United States. While they may be a smaller issue percentage-wise compared to the destruction inflicted by subterranean termites, Drywood termites are still a large threat to a home.

Drywood Termites are primarily found in the southern coastal areas and are saturated in a strip along the southern border of the United States ranging from California all the way to Florida. They are especially plentiful in states like California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

Due to their tendency to build nests in wood itself rather than underground like Subterranean Termites, Drywood Termites create elaborate tunnels and chambers inside of wood which they connect by digging small tunnels to travel. These tunnels and passageways are well-maintained and cleaned as Drywood termites push wood pellets out from their galleries such as frass.

Drywood termites have different behaviors and tendencies compared to Subterranean Termites and therefore, they need a different treatment approach when it comes to eliminating them from your home. Our DIY treatment guide below will show you exactly what you need to do to kill Drywood Termite infestations in your home and end the destruction.

Identification

Before you can carry out a treatment program, you need to first identify Drywood Termites to be sure that is the pest you are dealing with. Misidentification will lead to wasted efforts using the wrong pesticides, not to mention wasted time and money.

Drywood Termites differ from other termites because they are known to invade pieces of furniture, wood flooring, the frames of homes and any other area with dried wood, which is why they are named "drywood termites".
Drywood Termites colonize within wood and have various members--swarmers, reproductives, soldiers, and workers.
The drywood termite swarmers (or alates) are winged. Once mature, they leave the original colony and are responsible for producing new colonies.
The body is a reddish-brown color and they are approximately half an inch long and have two pair of wings equal in length. If you see this stage of termite inside or outside your home it should be cause for concern since it is an indication that your home is possibly infested.
Next, there are the reproductives known as the king and queen that stay within the colony the full span of their lives. The kings can reach over half an inch long and the queens will be even longer because of their large egg-producing bellies.
Soldier termites are approximately one-quarter inch long, their bodies are cream-colored, their head is rectangular shaped and an orange color. They have large mandibles with serrated edges and are used to protect the colony from intruders.
Finally, you have the workers that are cream-colored, about 3/16th of an inch long. The workers are responsible for damaging the structure by eating the wood to collect cellulose. The majority of termites consist of worker termites.

If you are having trouble with identification, contact our pest control experts to assist you in correctly ID'ing the termite you are dealing with. We will also offer you our top recommendations for control of your pest problem.

Inspection

After you have confirmed that drywood termites are on your property, you can proceed with an inspection. During this phase, you will need to figure out where drywood termites are infesting, how severe of an infestation there is, and scan for signs of drywood termite activity.

Where To Inspect

Drywood termites are normally found in the attic or the eaves around the exterior around the house. Although swarms are a pretty good indication that you have an infestation, drywood termites may be difficult to find.

When conducting inspections, be sure you equip yourself with a flashlight to check dark areas like basements or attics. You should also use a screwdriver or sharp ended object to probe termite galleries. Pay close attention to all wood construction, support posts and ceiling joists or areas where soil meets wood.

What To Look For

The signs to look out for are frass, wings and feces. Frass looks similar to sawdust and is left behind by termites while digging through and consuming wood. They can also appear in the form of a small wooden pellet which is actually their feces.

Swarmer wings found in your home is an indication of the swarmer termites being active in mating and creating a new colony within the home. Finding wings is a tell-tale sign that you have a heavy infestation.

Treatment

Drywood termite infestations are not as large as subterranean termite infestations so controlling drywood termites will not require as much effort as it would to control subterranean termites. Before handling any chemicals, make sure you have on the proper personal protective equipment for safety.

We recommend two effective ways to get rid of Drywood termites. One is via borate wood treatment using a product called Boracare. Secondly, you can drill and fill infested wood areas to eliminate drywood termite invaders with Fipro Foaming Aerosol.

Step 1 - Wood Treatment With Boracare

If the colony has been identified in a specific area within the structure you want to replace the damaged wood and treat with borate-based product Boracare. Boracare is applied to bare wood and should be mixed in a bucket with warm water.

To figure out how much Boracare you need, you will need to determine the size of the treatment area. Measure the linear feet of all exterior walls, interior walls, and areas you wish to treat. Most commonly, homes use 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 studs on their walls.

1 gallon of diluted Boracare will cover 600 lineal feet for 2x4 studs, 400 lineal feet for 2x6 and 308 lineal feet for 2x8. Linear feet is simply the length of the measurement (6 linear feet = 6 total feet).

Using a 5 gallon bucket, mix 1 part Boracare with 1 part water. It is recommended that you use hot water to mix with Boracare. Boracare is very thick and viscous solution and needs to be mixed well and broken down.

Boracare can be painted onto the wood, sprayed on or foamed into wall voids. Choose the treatment method that best suits your preference. For more effective results, apply two coats of Boracare to each piece of infested wood.You can treat exposed wood behind sheetrock or up in the attic.

Boracare will penetrate the wood and kill the termites as they feed. Also, if you have access to underneath your house you can spray all the exposed wood there as well.

Step 2 - Drill and Fill Treatment Using FiPro Aerosol

Apply Fipro Aerosol Foam into any exposed termite galleries, voids, cracks and crevices around windows, doors and fireplaces. Fipro Aerosol is a foam and it travels very easily through termite galleries which actually provides good deep penetration.

For infested wood,attach your drillbit and go ahead and drill holes into the wood where the nest is located. Holes should be drilled 8 to 10 inches apart around the entire piece of wood. Then fill the holes with Fipro Aerosol foam. Close up the holes made in the wood using a wood patch or other type of wood sealant material with a paintbrush or other kind of spreading tool.

Prevention

To prevent Drywood termites from accessing your home you can use Boracare and spray it up in the attic on all exposed wood also in the exterior up underneath the house and the floor joists. Keep an eye out for further signs of termite activity and conditions that could create a favorable environment for them. And spray FiPro Aerosol in voids, cracks, and crevices every three months for continual control.

It is also a good idea to monitor your property for signs of other termites, such as subterranean termites. For this, use Red Eye termite monitoring stations. Place multiple Red Eye Stations around the home to monitor for termite activity. When there is termite activity, the Red Eye indicator will let you know by disappearing and then you can treat termites accordingly by injecting Fipro aerosol into the station.

Other preventative measures you can take is to reduce moisture around the house. Check the Red Eye once a month.

Key Takeaways

What are Drywood Termites?

Drywood Termites are a species of Termite known to infest wooden structures and items.
Drywood Termites like to reside, feed and build nests in fresh wood and do not depend on moisture or soil for survival, unlike subterranean termites.

How To Get Rid of Drywood Termites

Our top recommendations for Drywood Termite control is treating infested wood with Boracare and doing a drill and fill treatment of wood with Fipro Foaming Aerosol.

How To Prevent Drywood Termites

Prevent future termite infestations by using the Red Eye Termite Monitoring Station which will alert you of termite activity so you can take action with a Fipro Aerosol injection.