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Western Drywood Termite
Incisitermes minor (Hagen)

Class:

Insecta

Order:

Isoptera

Family:

Kalotermitidae

Size:

Western drywood termite swarmers are about 7/16-1/2 in (11-12.5 mm) long, including wings, which are 3/8 in (8.5 mm) or longer.

Characteristics:

Soldier of western drywood termite: forehead slopes down gradually from top of head, which is flattened to slightly rounded in side view; antenna has 3rd segment which is enlarged and club-like; pronotum is as wide or wider than head as viewed from the top. The western drywood termite produces usually hard pellets, less than 1/32 in (1 mm) long, long, oval shaped with rounded ends, 6 concave sides.

Color:

Swarmer of western drywood termite: head and pronotum are orange brown, abdomen is dark brown, wing membrane and pigmented veins are blackish. Soldier: head is orange to reddish brown with a whitish eye spot.

Geographic Range:

Dampwood termites are found in Pacific and adjacent states, the desert or semi-arid southwest, and southern Florida.

Comparison with other species:

The three families that represent this dampwood termite habitat group contain species of varying appearance. Almost all of them are larger than the eastern/western/desert subterranean termites, nymphs being up to 3/4 in (20mm) long, and swarmers up to 1 in (25 mm) long including wings.

Habitat:

Termites live in damp, sometimes decaying, wood, such as logs, stumps, and dead trees that are still standing. One species is found in the dead limbs of living trees. Dampwood termites move into buildings where wood is in contact with the ground, or where there is a leaky pipe or other source of continual moisture.

Food:

Wood.

Biology:

Dampwood termites are not subterranean, and do not require contact with damp ground (except for desert dampwood termites). They do need damp wood, such as that in contact with the ground or constant moisture. They do not usually burrow in soil. Swarming time varies depending on the family. Check locally known species for specific information on swarming time. Swarmers excavate a chamber in wood, enter, seal it off, mate, and the female (queen) lays eggs. There is no worker caste; immatures do the work.

Invasion:

From decaying wood outdoors, during swarming time.

Damage:

From decaying wood outdoors, during swarming time.Dampwood termites eat across the grain of wood, through both spring and summer wood, making chambers and galleries, and the tunnels which connect them. The walls are smooth and the galleries free of soil, except that in moist conditions droppings may stick to the gallery walls. In dry conditions the droppings accumulate at the bottom or are expelled. Pellets are used to seal off galleries.