Worker Termite (Subterranean)

Natural Habitat

Typically found in damp soil near wood sources, inside decaying logs, or within the structural timbers of buildings if an infestation is present. They require moisture to survive.

Diet & Feeding

Cellulose from wood and plant products. They feed on decaying wood, paper, cardboard, and sometimes fabric or cotton.

Behavior Patterns

Worker termites are sterile and blind. They work 24/7 to forage for food, feed the colony (soldiers, king, queen, and nymphs), and maintain or expand the nest tunnels. They avoid light and open air, traveling through mud tubes.

Risks & Benefits

Major structural pest; they cause billions of dollars in property damage annually by eating wooden structures from the inside out. In nature, however, they are beneficial decomposers that break down dead wood and return nutrients to the soil.

Identified on: 2/25/2026