Drywood Termites are larger than their Subterranean Termite cousins, and grow to as large as 1/2 inch long. There are no workers in the Drywood Termite colony. In need of only minimal moisture, these termites grow their colonies inside wood (usually in attics), so no connection to the ground is necessary. As with all termites, wood and cellulose foods are their staple diet.

Drywood Termite nymphs evolve through 7 stages before reaching adulthood. The Drywood Termite produces piles of sawdust pellets and eliminates them through the hole - piles of these are a sure sign of infestation. Drywood colonies can contain up to 2,700 members.

Halt Bugology Factoid
It is a common misconception that size of the worker will indicate whether the termite is a drywood or subterranean. While many drywood species have larger workers than do subterranean termites, such as Incisitermes spp., other drywood species have much smaller workers (ex. Cryptotermes spp.). (Factoid Source: Thomas G. Shelton, Graduate Assistant, Wheeler Foshee III, Extension Specialist, Pesticide Education, and Arthur G. Appel, Professor, all in Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University)

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