If you own a home in Riverside, you're in the territory of not one but two major termite species. Both subterranean and drywood termites are active throughout the Inland Empire, and each poses a different kind of threat to your property.
Understanding the differences between them helps you know what to watch for and why regular inspections matter.
Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites are the most economically destructive wood pest in the United States. They live in underground colonies that can number in the hundreds of thousands and travel through soil to reach the wood in your home.
How they get in: These termites build mud tubes — enclosed tunnels made of soil and moisture — up from the ground to reach wood above. They need constant contact with moisture to survive.
Where to look: Foundation walls, crawlspaces, basement walls, and anywhere wood contacts or is close to soil. Riverside homes with slab foundations can still be affected — subterranean termites can enter through cracks as thin as a credit card.
Damage pattern: They eat along the wood grain, creating a layered, honeycomb-like damage pattern. Because they work from the ground up, damage often starts in the lowest structural members of your home.
Drywood Termites
Drywood termites don't need soil contact or moisture from the ground. They live entirely inside the wood they consume, setting up colonies within your walls, attic framing, furniture, and even picture frames.
How they get in: Swarmers (winged reproductives) fly to your home, usually during warm evenings in late summer and fall, and enter through small cracks and openings. Once inside a piece of wood, they seal the entry hole and start eating.
Where to look: Attic framing, window and door frames, eaves, and any exposed wood surfaces. Drywood termites are extremely common in Riverside's drier climate because they don't need external moisture.
Damage pattern: They eat across the wood grain, creating smooth, clean galleries. The telltale sign is frass — small piles of hexagonal fecal pellets pushed out of tiny "kick holes" in infested wood.
Which Is More Common in Riverside?
Both species thrive in our area, but for different reasons:
- Subterranean termites love the irrigated landscaping and clay soils common throughout Riverside neighborhoods. Sprinkler systems and poor drainage can create ideal moisture conditions right next to your foundation.
- Drywood termites flourish in our warm, arid climate. Riverside's hot summers and mild winters let colonies grow year-round without the freezing temperatures that slow them down in other parts of the country.
Many Riverside homes — especially those over 15 years old — have both species present at the same time, each attacking different parts of the structure.
Treatment Differences
The treatment approach depends entirely on which species you have:
- Subterranean termites are typically treated with soil treatments (liquid termiticides applied around the foundation) or bait station systems. The goal is to break their connection between the soil colony and your home.
- Drywood termites may require localized treatments (injecting termiticide directly into infested wood), fumigation (tenting the entire structure), or heat treatment for specific areas.
A proper inspection identifies which species is present, where the activity is concentrated, and which treatment method makes the most sense for your situation.
Why Inspections Matter for Both
Because subterranean and drywood termites attack differently and leave different evidence, a trained eye is essential for accurate identification. Our free termite inspections cover your entire property — from the foundation to the attic — checking for signs of both species.
Not sure which termites you're dealing with? We'll find out for free.
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