Termite Identification
San Diego Termite Species: Drywood vs Subterranean
Two termite species cause nearly all of the damage we see across San Diego County: the Western Drywood termite and the Western Subterranean termite. They look similar at a glance, but the signs they leave behind — and the treatments that actually work — are very different. Here is how our licensed inspectors tell them apart.
Drywood Termites
Incisitermes minor. Live entirely inside the dry wood they consume — attics, eaves, window frames, fascia boards, and structural beams. Common in coastal and inland San Diego homes.
- Telltale sign: six-sided fecal pellets ("frass") the size of coarse pepper, often piled on windowsills or under tiny "kick-out" holes.
- Damage pattern: smooth, clean galleries that follow the wood grain. No mud, no soil contact required.
- Swarms: reddish-brown winged adults swarm September through November on warm afternoons.
- Treatment: whole-structure fumigation for widespread infestations, or local treatment (drill-and-inject, heat, or spot foam) for isolated colonies.
Subterranean Termites
Reticulitermes hesperus. Live in the soil and travel up into the structure through hidden tubes. Most common in irrigated yards, slab homes, and properties with wood-to-soil contact.
- Telltale sign: pencil-thick "mud tubes" running up foundations, piers, garage walls, or crawlspace cripple walls.
- Damage pattern: galleries packed with mud and soil, eating along the soft spring wood and leaving a layered, honeycomb look.
- Swarms: dark-bodied winged adults swarm after the first warm spring rains, usually March through May.
- Treatment: liquid soil treatment (termiticide barrier) around the foundation, in-ground bait stations, or both. Fumigation does not solve a subterranean colony living in the soil.
Quick comparison
| Sign | Drywood | Subterranean |
|---|---|---|
| Droppings | Six-sided pellets | None visible |
| Tubes | No mud tubes | Mud tubes on walls/foundation |
| Where | Attic, eaves, framing | Slab, crawlspace, soil contact |
| Swarm season | Sept – Nov | March – May |
| Primary treatment | Fumigation or local treatment | Soil termiticide / bait stations |
Not sure what you're seeing?
Both species can quietly destroy framing for years before homeowners notice. A licensed Bite Away inspector will identify the species, map the activity, and recommend the right treatment — fumigation, local treatment, or a soil program. Residential termite inspections are free.