Common Termite Species Found in Texas
1. Drywood Termites
Species: Incisitermes snyderi, Cryptotermes brevis, Incisitermes minor
What they feed on: Summerwood
Damage zone: Southern coastal Texas counties, with spot activity in San Antonio, Uvalde, and up to Collin County
Colony size: Up to 10,000 termites
Signs to look for:
- Small wood-colored pellets (frass)
- Discarded wings near windows or doors
- Hollow-sounding wood
Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat and do not require contact with soil—making them especially difficult to detect.
2. Formosan Termites
What they feed on: Summerwood, cellulose-based materials, even live trees
Damage rate: Fastest and most destructive termite species
Colony size: Over 1 million termites within 5 years
Aggression: Very aggressive; attack a variety of materials
Formosan termites are considered the most economically devastating species in the U.S. and are increasingly found in parts of Texas.
3. Subterranean Termites
What they feed on: Springwood
Damage zone: From East Texas through Bexar County (San Antonio), Uvalde, Tom Green, and as far as Eastland County
Colony size: 21,000 – 365,000 termites within 4 years
These termites build large colonies underground and enter homes through cracks in the foundation or plumbing entry points. They are responsible for billions in damage each year and can severely impact a home’s integrity.
🎥 See the Damage for Yourself
Video: Subterranean Termites in Action
Property of Priority Inspection Services, LLC.
Watch our video footage from actual inspection sites to see just how destructive these tiny pests can be.
Learn More
For additional resources and scientific data on WDI in Texas, visit:
Subterranean tunneling
Photo credit: Priority Inspection Services.
How can termites be identified?
Drywood Termites
Where they live:
- Inside dry, undecayed wood (walls, framing, furniture, attics)
- Do not need soil contact
- Often found in warmer, coastal areas, but also in San Antonio and Uvalde
How to identify them:
- Pellet-like droppings (frass): Small, dry, wood-colored; usually found in piles below infested areas
- Kick-out holes: Small holes in wood where frass is pushed out
- Dry, hollow-sounding wood
- No mud tubes
- Alates (swarmers): Red to light brown, ⅜ inch, swarm in late summer or fall
- Colonies are small, but multiple colonies may infest a single structure
Formosan Termites
Where they live:
- Underground, but can build above-ground nests (cartons) in walls or attics
- Prefer warm, humid climates
- Found in southern and coastal Texas, with increasing spread inland
How to identify them:
- Large swarms at night during late spring to early summer
- Swarmers are yellow-brown, about ½ inch, with long wings
- Carton nests: Spongy-looking material made of chewed wood, soil, and feces
- Cause damage faster and more aggressively than other species
- Can chew through wood, insulation, plastic, even soft metals
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean Termites
Where they live:
- Underground in moist soil
- Travel above ground through mud tubes
- Prefer moist wood, often near foundations, plumbing leaks, or crawlspaces
How to identify them:
- Mud tubes: Pencil-sized tunnels along foundation walls, slabs, or in crawlspaces
- Damaged wood: Usually below the surface—hollowed along the grain with mud inside
- Swarmers (alates): Black, about ¼ inch with long translucent wings; swarm in early spring (daytime)
- Winged swarmers found indoors near windows or doors can signal an active infestation
- Colonies can contain tens to hundreds of thousands of termites
Carpenter Bees – Small Holes, Big Problems
Carpenter bees are often mistaken for bumblebees, but these solitary insects can burrow into wood to create nesting tunnels, especially in soft or decaying wood. Over time, their repeated tunneling can cause cosmetic and structural damage—especially when old holes are reused and expanded.
Carpenter Bee Identification
- Color: Similar in size to bumblebees, but with:
▸ Bright orange or yellow hairs
▸ A shiny, black abdomen (unlike the fuzzy rear of bumblebees) - Size: Around ½ to 1 inch
- Habits:
▸ Prefer softwoods such as cedar, cypress, pine, and redwood
▸ Nest by boring round holes into eaves, siding, fences, and decks
▸ Minimal initial damage, but serious wear accumulates over years
▸ Return to reuse and expand existing holes
When They’re Active
- Adults emerge in late summer
- Hibernate in fall, often inside the same nesting galleries
- Early detection can prevent recurring infestations
How to Manage Carpenter Bees
- Apply liquid, aerosol, or dust insecticide directly into the holes
- After treatment, seal the holes with wood filler, caulk, or a suitable sealant
- Consider installing carpenter bee traps (available online or DIY)
- Paint or seal exposed wood surfaces—bees prefer unpainted or weathered wood
Why It Matters
While the damage caused by a single carpenter bee may be small, repeated activity in the same area can lead to larger structural and aesthetic issues—especially in exposed wood framing, fascia, and decks.
🛡️ Regular inspections and preventative measures can help protect your home from long-term deterioration.
📷 Photo Credit: Urban Entomology – Texas A&M University
🔗 Learn more about common urban pests: Urban Entomology at Texas A&M
🧰 Concerned About Carpenter Bee Activity?
Priority Inspection Services offers comprehensive WDI inspections that include evaluation for termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and other structural pests in San Antonio and surrounding areas.
📷 Photo Credit: Urban Entomology – Texas A&M University