California Termites: 3 Most Common Termites That Could Damage Your Home

Termites are pretty common all throughout California. These tiny insects have a reputation for being destructive. Their wood-munching habits can cause serious damage to homes, which is exactly why many homeowners don’t want them around their property.

Given the readily available wood and warm weather in California, termites are pervasive, which makes them even bigger trouble than they already are for a lot of us. Unfortunately, you may not know if they are already chomping on your property.

How do you know if termites are already present in and around your property? Can you identify which ones are the most damaging? Learn more about the three most common types of California termites.

2. Subterranean Termite

The subterranean termite is also one of the most damaging species alongside drywood termite. They normally live in soil to survive, so you can often find them underground or in wet areas aboveground. They create tunnels to hunt food. Subterranean termites tend to have translucent gray or brown bodies and slightly hairy wings, differentiating them from other species. They grow between 3.1mm to 9.5mm long.

There’s a species of subterranean termite called Formosan subterranean termite that is the biggest threat to your home, especially if you live in San Diego. Formosan subterranean termites can build colonies and cause damage quicker than other species of subterranean termites. They have translucent orange bodies.

Western subterranean termite swarms during daytime when it’s rainy in autumn, winter, or early spring. Arid-land subterranean termite swarms typically happen during the day in spring and fall. In San Diego, swarms happen at night and peak around June and July, while smaller swarms may take place for a few more months.

3. Dampwood Termite

Unlike drywood and subterranean termite, dampwood termite is less likely to inflict damage, although a swarm can be a nuisance for many homeowners. Moist and decaying wood in residential areas is their favorite spot, while swamp edges and wetland margins are also common habitats. Dampwood termite usually has light yellow or tan bodies and grows between 12.7mm to 15.8mm long.

Pacific dampwood termite usually swarms between August and October, just before sunset.

Got Termites? Call Termite Control Experts in California Today!

Although termite swarms are seasonal, they are active all year round. If you suspect there are termites on your property or you just want to protect your home against termites, you need to take the necessary precautions to ensure any activity does not progress and becomes damaging.

Pro Pacific Pest Control can help you eliminate or prevent termites through our QualityPro-certified termite control treatments. Learn more about our Termite Control Service in San Diego, Riverside, and Orange County.

Call us at 800-901-1102 to schedule a FREE termite inspection/estimate.