Community identification
Drywood Termite
Incisitermes snyderi
- Order & Family
- Order: Blattodea; Family: Kalotermitidae
- Size
- 3/8 to 1/2 inch (roughly 10-12 mm) for reproductive swarmers.
Natural Habitat
Dry wood above ground, such as furniture, structural timbers, and dead trees, without requiring contact with soil.
Diet & Feeding
Cellulose found in dry wood and paper products; they use endosymbionts in their gut to digest lignin and cellulose.
Behavior Patterns
They live in small colonies within wood. They are known for 'swarming' during specific seasons to form new colonies and leave behind characteristic 'frass' (six-sided fecal pellets).
Risks & Benefits
They are significant structural pests that can cause extensive damage to home framing and wooden furniture. In ecosystems, they benefit the environment by breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients.