Drywood Termites: Signs, Damage, Treatment and Cost

Drywood termites are wood-destroying insects that can damage homes, furniture, trim, framing, and attic wood. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not need soil contact. They live directly inside the dry wood they consume, which makes them harder to detect early.

By the time many homeowners notice drywood termites, the colony may have been hidden in a wall, attic, window frame, or piece of furniture for years. This guide explains what drywood termites look like, the warning signs of an infestation, what treatment can cost, and how to choose between DIY spot treatment and professional help.

Important: Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not build mud tubes and do not need soil. Their most common visible signs are frass pellets, kick-out holes, damaged wood, and indoor swarmers.

What Do Drywood Termites Look Like?

Drywood termite colonies are smaller than subterranean colonies, and the differences between castes are subtle but important for identification.

Size

Size depends on caste. Soldiers are often about 3/8 inch long. Reproductive males and females, also called alates or swarmers, may be around 1/2 inch long including wings. Worker-like immature termites are smaller and rarely seen outside the wood.

Color

Color varies by role and life stage:

• Immature termites: pale cream to whitish;
• Soldiers: cream to light brown bodies with darker heads;
• Alates or swarmers: brown to dark brown, sometimes with a reddish tint.

Shape

Drywood termites have straight, beaded antennae and thick, uniform bodies with no narrow pinched waist. Reproductives have two pairs of wings of equal length. See our guide to termite swarmers for full identification details.

Signs of Drywood Termite Infestation

Because drywood termites live inside the wood, the warning signs can be subtle. These are the most reliable indicators.

1. Frass or Termite Droppings

Frass is one of the clearest signs of drywood termite activity. Drywood frass looks like tiny, hard pellets, often pale brown to dark brown. The pellets collect in small piles below kick-out holes in infested wood.

This is one of the key differences from subterranean termites, which use fecal material to build mud tubes. Learn more in our guide to termite droppings in the house.

2. Kick-Out Holes

Drywood termites push frass out of the wood through small kick-out holes. These holes are often found on the underside of beams, on furniture, on trim, or near window frames. They may be very small, so look for pellet piles directly below suspicious wood.

3. Wood Tunnels and Galleries

Galleries are smooth tunnels carved into wood. They are usually invisible from the outside, but if damaged wood breaks open and reveals smooth internal channels running across the grain, drywood termites may be responsible.

4. Damaged or Hollow-Sounding Wood

Drywood termites consume wood from the inside out, leaving the outer surface intact. Tap suspect wood with a screwdriver. If it sounds hollow, feels papery, or breaks easily, termites may have been active inside.

Other warning signs include surface blistering, sagging trim, and small holes that appear without explanation. See our guide on termite damage for more examples.

5. Swarmers Indoors

If you find winged termites near windows, doors, or light fixtures inside your home, a mature colony may be active nearby. Drywood swarms often happen in late summer through fall, depending on region.

Our guide to termite swarmers explains what indoor swarmers mean and how to respond.

Drywood Termite Damage

As drywood termites tunnel through wood to expand the colony, they weaken it from the inside. Their galleries can cut across the grain, reducing structural strength over time.

This kind of termite damage can affect:

• wall studs and framing;
• door frames and trim;
• hardwood flooring;
• window frames and sills;
• wooden furniture, especially older or imported pieces;
• attic beams and roof framing.

Eventually, heavily infested wood may crack, crumble, or fail under load. Drywood termites often damage wood more slowly than subterranean termites, but they can be harder to find early because they do not need soil contact or mud tubes.

See our guide on termite damage repair for repair cost estimates and DIY-friendly options.

What Do Drywood Termites Eat?

Drywood termites feed on dry, sound wood. They commonly attack structural lumber, hardwood floors, furniture, trim, framing, door frames, and window frames. They get moisture from the wood itself, which is why they can survive inside a piece of furniture or framing without leaving for long periods.

Where Do Drywood Termites Live?

As the name suggests, drywood termites live inside dry wood, not in soil. They are found in:

• wooden door and window frames;
• attic beams and roof framing;
• trim and baseboards;
• support beams in finished structures;
• wooden furniture, especially antiques and imported pieces;
• dead branches and dry tree limbs outdoors.

In the United States, drywood termites are most common in warmer coastal and southern regions, including parts of Florida, California, Texas, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, South Carolina, and Nevada.

If you are trying to reduce risk around the house, our guide on how to protect wood from termites is a useful next read.

Habits of Drywood Termites

Colony Size

Drywood colonies are much smaller than subterranean colonies. A drywood colony may contain hundreds to a few thousand termites, while subterranean colonies can be much larger. Smaller colony size is one reason drywood termites can stay hidden for a long time.

Aggressiveness

Drywood termites are destructive but often slower-spreading than subterranean species. That slower pace can create a false sense of security, especially when damage is hidden inside wood.

Adaptability

Drywood termites are well adapted to dry conditions. They can survive inside dry wood without an external water source, which is why they can infest furniture, trim, and attic framing.

How Did I Get Drywood Termites?

Drywood termites typically enter a property in two ways.

1. Through Swarming

Winged reproductives leave existing colonies, often outdoors in dead branches or neighboring homes, and fly to new locations. They land on exposed wood, lose their wings, find a mate, and begin a new colony in a crack, knot, or small opening.

2. Through Infested Wood

Used or imported furniture, antique pieces, lumber, picture frames, and firewood can carry drywood termites into a home. This is why some homes develop drywood infestations in a single room with no obvious entry point.

Because drywood termites do not need soil contact, a home can develop a drywood infestation with no mud tubes, no foundation cracks, and no obvious moisture problem.

How to Get Rid of Drywood Termites

Treatment depends on how widespread the infestation is and how accessible the affected wood is.

1. Use Spot Treatment for Localized Activity

If termite activity is limited to a specific piece of wood or single accessible area, foam termiticides applied directly into the galleries may help. This usually requires drilling small holes into the infested wood and injecting foam so it expands through the gallery system.

See our guide on the best termite sprays for spot treatment for product options.

2. Replace or Remove Infested Wood

When damaged wood is easy to access, such as a single piece of trim, a door frame, or a furniture leg, removing or replacing it can be a practical solution. Dispose of the removed wood carefully to prevent spreading the colony.

3. Treat Exposed Wood with Borate

After removing damaged wood, or during remodeling and new construction, applying a borate wood treatment can help protect unfinished framing from future infestation.

4. Use Professional Treatment for Widespread Infestations

For drywood termites in multiple rooms, hidden in framing, or scattered across the structure, professional treatment is usually the safer call. Depending on the situation, options may include localized injection, heat treatment, or tent fumigation.

See our termite fumigation guide for details on cost and process.

Drywood Termite Treatment Cost

Treatment cost depends on the method, size of the home, location, and how widespread the infestation is. Drywood termites can be more expensive to eliminate than localized subterranean activity because they are harder to detect and may require whole-structure treatment.

DIY treatment costs:

• borate wood treatment: about $40-100;
• foam spot treatment kit: about $25-60;
• wood replacement for a single piece: often $50-300 depending on lumber type;
• localized DIY treatment: often $100-500.

Professional treatment costs:

• initial termite inspection: often free to $150;
• professional spot treatment: often $300-1,200;
• localized injection treatment in multiple areas: often $1,000-3,000;
• tent fumigation for an average home: often $1,200-3,800+;
• heat treatment alternatives: often $1,500-4,000;
• damage repair: can range from minor repair to $20,000+ in severe cases.

The final cost usually depends on whether the infestation is localized or widespread, treatment method, square footage, whether repair is needed, and local pest control pricing.

For a broader cost overview, see our guide to termite inspection and treatment costs.

Tips for Drywood Termite Control

1. Store lumber and firewood away from the house, especially near doors, windows, and exterior walls.
2. Seal unfinished wood with paint, stain, sealant, or varnish where appropriate.
3. Install fine-mesh screens on attic vents, crawlspace vents, soffit vents, and gable vents to reduce swarmer entry.
4. Inspect wooden furniture and trim regularly for frass, kick-out holes, and hidden damage.
5. Inspect imported or used furniture before bringing it indoors.
6. Trim tree branches and remove dead wood near the house.

Prevention of Drywood Termites

Reduce Cellulose Clutter

Remove unnecessary wood debris, cardboard, and unused cellulose-based materials from around the property, attic, garage, and crawlspaces. Drywood swarmers landing on stored wood scraps can establish colonies that later spread.

Fix Moisture Problems

While drywood termites tolerate dry conditions better than subterranean species, moisture problems can still make wood more vulnerable. Fix leaking roofs, faulty gutters, dripping AC units, and damp areas around windows.

Protect Vulnerable Wood

Apply a borate wood treatment to exposed framing, attic beams, and other unfinished wood, especially in regions where drywood termite pressure is high.

Our guide on how to get rid of termites and prevent them covers broader prevention steps.

Schedule Annual Inspections

Annual termite inspections can catch new drywood colonies before they spread to multiple wood sections. This is especially useful in warm coastal and southern regions.

Subterranean vs Drywood Termites

The two most common termite types in the United States can look similar at first glance, but they have major differences in habitat, signs, and treatment.

For the full breakdown of subterranean species, see our guide to subterranean termites.

Interesting Facts About Drywood Termites

1. Drywood termites can survive inside a piece of furniture or framing without soil contact.
2. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood colonies do not rely on mud tubes.
3. Drywood swarms are often visible events, especially in warm regions during late summer or fall.
4. Whole-structure treatment may be needed when colonies are hidden in multiple parts of the home.
5. Secondary reproductives can allow parts of a colony to continue if conditions remain favorable.

FAQ

How do I know if I have drywood termites or subterranean termites?

Look for mud tubes and frass. Subterranean termites build mud tubes and need soil contact. Drywood termites do not build mud tubes and often leave dry pellet droppings below kick-out holes.

Can drywood termites spread from one piece of furniture to my house?

Yes. Drywood swarmers can fly from infested furniture to nearby exposed wood in walls, floors, or framing. Used, antique, and imported wooden items should be inspected before being brought indoors.

Will tent fumigation get rid of drywood termites?

Tent fumigation is one of the most complete treatments for whole-structure drywood infestations because fumigant can reach hidden galleries throughout the structure. Results depend on proper preparation, sealing, dosage, and professional application.

How long does it take to see drywood termite damage?

Drywood termite damage often develops slowly, but visible signs may appear only after the colony is established. Multiple colonies or repeated swarms can speed up the damage.

Are drywood termites worse than subterranean termites?

Not usually in total annual damage, but drywood termites can be harder to detect and may require more disruptive treatment when they are widespread. Subterranean termites usually cause more total structural damage in the United States.

Can I treat drywood termites myself?

Sometimes. Localized infestations in one accessible piece of wood may be handled with foam treatment, wood removal, or borate protection. Widespread infestations across multiple areas usually require professional treatment.

What time of year do drywood termites swarm?

Drywood termites often swarm from late summer through fall, though timing depends on species, region, temperature, and humidity.

How much does drywood termite fumigation cost?

Tent fumigation often costs $1,200-$3,800+ for an average home, depending on square footage, region, structure type, and pest control company. A professional quote is the only way to know the exact price.

Conclusion

Drywood termites are dangerous because they live hidden inside wood and may not show obvious signs until the colony is established. Frass piles, kick-out holes, damaged wood, and indoor swarmers are the signs homeowners should watch most closely.

Match the treatment to the situation:

• Localized activity in one piece of wood → spot treatment
• Unfinished or exposed wood during repairs → borate wood treatment
• Widespread infestation across the structure → professional fumigation or whole-structure treatment
• Severe or recurring activity → get termite inspection quotes from local pros

If you are not sure what you are seeing, start by checking for frass piles, kick-out holes, and indoor swarmers. Catching drywood termites early can reduce repair and treatment costs later.

Related Reading

• Termite Droppings: What Frass Looks Like and What to Do
• Termite Swarmers: What They Look Like and What to Do
• Subterranean Termites: Signs, Damage, Treatment, and Cost
• Flying Termites vs Flying Ants: How to Tell the Difference
• Best Termite Sprays for Spot Treatment
• Best Borate Wood Treatment for Termites
• Best Pest Control Services Compared