Texas is home to several termite species, and nearly every part of the state faces some level of termite risk. The warm, humid climate across much of Texas creates ideal conditions for termites to thrive year-round, with subterranean species posing the greatest threat to homes statewide and drywood termites concentrated along the Gulf Coast and in pockets of central and north Texas.
Termite Species Found in Texas
The most common and destructive termites in Texas are subterranean species. These termites nest underground and build mud tubes to reach wood above the soil line. They’re found in every region of the state, from the Panhandle to the Rio Grande Valley, and cause more structural damage than any other type.
Formosan subterranean termites are the most aggressive variety. Originally from East Asia, they’ve established themselves in Texas and are sometimes called “super termites” because their colonies can contain millions of individuals, far more than native subterranean species. A mature Formosan colony can consume wood at a significantly faster rate, making early detection critical.
Drywood termites are the other major concern for Texas homeowners. Unlike subterranean species, drywood termites don’t nest in the ground at all. They live entirely inside the wood they feed on, which means they can infest upper floors, attic framing, and furniture without any connection to the soil. They’re most common in coastal counties but have been found as far inland as San Antonio, Uvalde, and north to Collin County near Dallas. Because they don’t require ground contact, treating drywood termites requires a different and typically more expensive approach than treating subterranean species.
When Termites Swarm in Texas
Swarming is the event most homeowners notice first. Reproductive termites leave existing colonies in large numbers to mate and start new colonies, and in Texas the timing varies by species. Native subterranean termites typically swarm in early spring, often after a warm rain. You’ll usually see them during daylight hours.
Formosan subterranean termites follow a different schedule. They swarm at night in late May and early June and are strongly attracted to lights. If you see a cloud of winged insects around your porch light or street lights on a humid evening in late spring, Formosan termites are a real possibility. Drywood termites also tend to swarm later in the year, sometimes into late summer or early fall depending on the region.
Finding a swarm near your home doesn’t automatically mean your house is infested, but swarmers emerging from inside a wall, ceiling, or floor is a clear sign of an active colony in the structure. Piles of shed wings on windowsills or near doors are another telltale clue.
Signs of a Subterranean Termite Infestation
Subterranean termites leave several visible clues if you know what to look for. The most recognizable is mud shelter tubes: pencil-width tunnels made of soil and saliva that termites build along foundation walls, support piers, plumbing lines, or any surface between the ground and the wood they’re feeding on. These tubes protect them from open air and predators. Check the exterior foundation, the interior side of crawl space walls, and any exposed concrete or block in your garage.
Inside the home, look for BB-sized spots of dried mud on walls or ceilings. These “pinholes” appear when termites accidentally break through drywall and quickly patch the hole with mud. You might also notice narrow, sunken winding lines beneath paint or wallpaper, which happen when termites feed on the paper backing of drywall just beneath the surface.
Formosan termites can be especially dramatic. They sometimes build mud tubes higher up on buildings, on exterior walls, soffits, or fascia boards, rather than just along the foundation. In late spring, you may see odd mushroom-shaped formations of dried mud sprouting from walls or ceilings. These are “swarm castles” that Formosan colonies construct as launching points for their reproductive flights. If you see these, you’re dealing with a large, established colony.
Structural problems like sagging floors, a soft or springy feel underfoot, or a door frame that suddenly won’t close properly can also point to termite damage. If you pull back wallpaper or open a wall during repairs and find hollowed-out wood with dried dirt packed into the galleries, that’s termite damage.
Signs of a Drywood Termite Infestation
Drywood termites leave a completely different calling card. Because they live inside the wood and don’t use mud, the main indicator is their fecal pellets. These are tiny, hard, six-sided particles about the size of a grain of sand, with visible lengthwise ridges. Drywood termites push these pellets out of small “kick-out holes” in the wood, creating small piles on floors, countertops, or windowsills below the infested timber.
If you find a neat little mound of what looks like fine sawdust or coffee grounds with a uniform, seed-like shape, that’s almost certainly drywood termite frass. The pellets are distinctive enough that they’re considered one of the most reliable identification methods. Unlike subterranean termites, you won’t see mud tubes or soil in the damaged wood.
Professional Treatment Options
For subterranean termites, two main approaches dominate: liquid soil barriers and baiting systems. Liquid treatments involve applying a termiticide into the soil around and beneath a home’s foundation, creating a chemical barrier that termites can’t cross without being killed. The most effective modern products are non-repellent, meaning termites don’t detect the chemical and walk through it, carrying it back to the colony. This makes them more reliable than older repellent-style products that termites could sometimes find gaps in.
Baiting systems take a different approach. Small stations containing cellulose (wood fiber) combined with a slow-acting growth disruptor are installed in the ground around the perimeter of a home, typically 10 to 15 feet apart and about 1 to 2 feet from the foundation. Termites find the bait, feed on it, and share it with nest mates. Within weeks, affected termites die when they attempt to molt. Additional stations are often placed near known trouble spots like woodpiles, tree stumps, and areas with previous damage. Depending on the system and the pest control company, stations are checked anywhere from monthly to annually.
Some homes use baits alone, while others combine baiting with a partial liquid barrier for extra protection. Your pest control provider can help determine which approach makes sense based on the species involved, the construction of your home, and the severity of the problem.
Drywood termites require a fundamentally different strategy because they aren’t in contact with the soil. For localized infestations, spot treatments can target specific areas of wood. For widespread drywood infestations, whole-structure fumigation (tenting the house) may be necessary, which is considerably more expensive and disruptive.
Preventing Termites Around Your Home
Moisture is the single biggest factor that attracts subterranean termites. Fix leaky faucets, air conditioning drip lines, and any plumbing that creates damp soil near your foundation. Make sure gutters direct water away from the house, and grade the soil so it slopes away from the foundation rather than pooling against it. If you have a crawl space, ensure it’s properly ventilated. Foundation drains or French drains can correct chronic moisture problems, but if you’re planning to install drainage or waterproof your foundation, coordinate with a pest control company first so you don’t disturb an existing termite treatment in the soil.
Eliminate wood-to-ground contact wherever possible. Fence posts, deck supports, and stair stringers that sit directly on soil give termites an easy entry point. Store firewood well away from the house and raised off the ground. Mulch beds pushed up against the foundation create a moist, cellulose-rich environment that’s essentially a welcome mat for termites. Keep mulch at least several inches below the siding line, and consider using a gap of bare soil or gravel right against the foundation wall.
Keep an eye on any cracks in your foundation or gaps around plumbing penetrations. Subterranean termites only need a gap of about 1/32 of an inch to enter a structure. Sealing cracks won’t stop a determined colony on its own, but it reduces easy access points.
Termite Inspections and Texas Real Estate
If you’re buying or selling a home in Texas, a termite inspection is a standard part of the process. Texas requires that Wood Destroying Insect Reports (WDIRs) be completed on the official state-prescribed form, currently the SPCS/T-5 issued by the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Structural Pest Control Service. The form is standardized, and licensed inspectors aren’t allowed to modify it or add their own branding. This ensures consistency so that buyers, sellers, and lenders are all working from the same information.
Even if you’re not in the middle of a real estate transaction, annual professional inspections are a smart investment in Texas. Termite damage is rarely covered by homeowners insurance, and by the time visible signs appear, a colony may have been feeding for years. Catching an infestation early can mean the difference between a targeted treatment and a major structural repair.