Pictures of Termites - What Do They Really Look Like?

You’ll find pictures of termites very useful if you suspect an infestation. Knowing what kind of pests you have will help you settle for the most appropriate extermination plan. Termites however can also come in many different types and species. Termite identification often starts with knowing what the five general types look like.

 Drywood Termites

These are larger than the subterranean type. They may also come in a lighter brown shade or in a cream body and slightly darker head. Like their subterranean cousins, they have workers, warriors and swarmers too. Drywood types do not need a lot of moisture to survive. Hence, they can often be found above ground feeding on dry wood.

Formosan Termites

Pictures of termites won’t often reveal a lot about the aggressive nature of the Formosan type. They are larger than both drywood and subterranean types and feed on wood very quickly. They have yellow to light brown bodies. Like the subterranean type, they prefer to build homes and tunnels near the soil because they require moisture.

Dampwood Termites

Young dampwood termites are cream in color. Older ones however may have light yellow to brownish bodies. As their name suggests, they prefer high moisture wood and often live in wood buried underground. If wood above ground however has sufficient moisture, this type can thrive on it too.

These are only the major types of termites. Bear in mind that each type can have many different species. Some are more common in certain parts of the country than in others. Pictures of termites can only tell you so much. If you have doubts whether or not you have termites, the best solution is to contact experts who can both identify the species and the correct treatment approach.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean worker termites have small cream or white bodies. These are the most common class in a subterranean colony. You may however also be able to spot soldier ants with larger but equally light colored bodies. They have larger heads and mandibles than workers. Swarmers are often easiest to spot. These have brown to black bodies with thick waists that are not segmented like ants. Their four pairs of wings are all of equal size and their antennae are straight.

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