Termites are a pervasive problem for homeowners in Arizona. Unfortunately, most people wouldn’t know how to identify a termite if they ever saw one in their home. Failing to spot these household pests, however, can end up costing a lot of money in home repairs. So, what is a termite exactly and what does a termite look like? Below is some useful information to help homeowners identify the types of termites commonly found in Arizona homes.
Common Termite Types In Arizona
There are several types of termites indigenous to Arizona, but the most common by far are the Desert Subterranean and Western Drywood species. The Desert Subterranean species will burrow underground to form colonies, and will travel to your home by way of mud shelter tubes. The timber in your home is an excellent source of cellulose, which provides sustenance to workers and can be carried back to the colony to feed soldiers and reproductive termites. Underground Desert Subterranean colonies can be massive, housing as many as 500,000 termites. The Western Drywood species of termites will actually build smaller colonies inside your home. Although Western Drywood colonies are smaller than their Desert Subterranean cousins, housing only about 2,000 individual termites, it is not uncommon for a single home to have two or more colonies.
What Does A Termite Look Like?
Being able to identify a termite if you ever see one can help alert you to a termite infestation in order to get immediate treatment. Below is a brief description of the two most common types of termites found in Arizona:
- Desert Subterranean Termites: Swarmers of this species have a yellowish brown hue and feature two sets of translucent wings. Soldiers are a paler yellow color and do not have wings.
- Western Drywood Termites: Both swarmers and soldiers of this species feature an orangish-brown head with a deep brown abdomen. Soldiers also have white eye spots on their heads. Swarmers have four wings – two front wings and two rear wings. Soldiers of this species have no wings.
To learn more about the common termite types in Arizona or to schedule a FREE termite inspection from the professionals at ACTION Termite Control, call (877) 556-4131 today.
