Everyone knows that termites are destructive pests, but not everyone knows that there is more than one type. Some types of termites nest in soil, others nest in damp wood, and others nest in dry wood. Here's what you need to know about the latter type, drywood termites.

Do they live in every state?

Drywood termites are not found in every state. They can only survive in places where the temperature doesn't drop below freezing in the winter. You can find them in any of the southern states, all the way from California to Florida. 

How do they get into your house?

Drywood termites can get into your house in two main ways. First, you might bring wood products that are already infested with these termites into your home. The other way that these termites can get into your house is by swarming. Swarming means that the termites fly around and look for a new place to set up a colony, and if they find a weak point in the structure of your house, they may come inside. 

What are the signs of an infestation?

Since drywood termites live inside wood, they're hard to spot. If you don't see them swarming around your house, or accidentally discover them while you're renovating, you might not know they're there until your home's structure is seriously damaged. 

However, there are a few signs that you may notice if you're paying close attention:

• Wings that the adult termites have shed;
• Tiny hexagonal fecal pellets;
• Very small (2 mm in diameter) holes in wood surfaces around your house. 

Will they destroy your home?

Drywood termites can destroy your home, but it takes them a long time to do it. In a year, an average sized colony can be expected to cause between a few inches and two feet of damage. The range is wide because colonies can be varying sizes and infest wood of varying thicknesses and strengths. 

How do you get rid of drywood termites?

Once you've discovered that your house is infested, you need to get rid of the termites. Since they hide inside wood, they're hard to see and hard to kill, so you need to let the professionals handle it. Call a pest control company and they will treat the infested wood with insecticides. 

Drywood termites eat slowly, but they can cause a lot of damage over the years. If you think you have them in your home, you need to call a pest control company like Hilo Termite and Pest Control right away.