Drywood Termite (Alate/Swarmer)
Scientific Name: Incisitermes snyderi (or similar Incisitermes species)
Order & Family: Order Isoptera (or Blattodea); Family Kalotermitidae
Size: Approximately 1/2 inch (11–12 mm) in length including wings.
Natural Habitat
Dry wood above ground level, such as attic framing, floorboards, window sills, and furniture; they do not require contact with soil.
Diet & Feeding
Cellulose from dry wood and wood products; they utilize symbiotic microorganisms in their gut to digest lignin and cellulose.
Behavior Patterns
Social insects that live in colonies within the wood they consume. They produce 'swarmers' (winged reproductives) that emerge periodically to mate and start new colonies. They are known for leaving behind distinctive sand-like fecal pellets (frass).
Risks & Benefits
Risk: Structural pest that causes significant damage to homes and wooden property. Benefit: In a natural forest ecosystem, they help decompose dead wood and recycle nutrients back into the soil.
Identified on: 4/28/2026