Wood Destroying Pests

These wood attacking pests are known to cause extensive damage to structures and are common to Southeast Texas, Southwest Louisiana and the Gulf Coast region. Proper and thorough inspections are vital in determining the necessary treatment methods and solutions.

Carpenter Ant

Size: 5/8” Shape: Segmented, Oval Color: Black or Red/Black These species of ants get their name from building colonies in wood. Each colony has a queen that feeds workers as the workers mature they are ready to leave and gather food supply back to the queen and the next generation of worker ants. One colony of Carpenter Ants can produce up to 2,000 or more workers. These ants make tunnels that weaken structures and are costly to fix. Carpenter ants build their nests anywhere they can find water, moldy or damp wood even dry wood. Their diet is not limited to wood products; they also … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Ants, Property Damaging Pests, Wood Destroying Pests

Drywood Termite

Drywood Termites generally live (feed and nest) in undecayed structural wood that has a very low moisture content. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not require any ground contact for its moisture source. A male and female pair (called alates) work their way into the wood chosen for the colonies existance. The opening through which they enter the wood is sealed with a plug of bown cementlike material about 1/8th inch in diameter. Damage done by Drywood termites is entirely different from that caused by subterranean termites. These termites are able to cut across the grain of wood, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Property Damaging Pests, Termites, Wood Destroying Pests

Formosan Termite

(Coptotermes formosanus) Formosan Termites were first brought into the U.S. on military ships during WWII. Infestations have increased and expanded across the coastal U.S. Formosan termites are subterranean termites. They live in the ground, build mud tubes, have a 3 caste system, etc. However, they are described as being the more aggressive species compared to the other termites we deal with here in Southeast Texas. A mature queen can lay as many as 1,000 eggs per day. Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and occurs in the evening hours, starting at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Property Damaging Pests, Termites, What's Bugging Southeast Texas, Wood Destroying Pests

Old House Borer

The old-house borer, or house longhorn beetle, (Hylotrupes bajulus) is a species of wood-boring beetle in the family Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles). Contrary to its name, it is more often found in new houses; this is in part because new home construction may use wood infected with the beetle's eggs. Originating in Europe, the old-house borer now has a worldwide distribution, including the Mediterranean, South Africa, Asia, USA and Canada. Recently it has been found in Perth, Australia. In Australia, it is known as the European House Borer. Old-house borers prefer seasoned softwoods, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Wood Destroying Pests

Powder Post Beetle

Powder Post Beetle Size: 1/32 to 1/4” Color: Reddish Brown to Black Powder Post Beetles will lay their eggs in exposed wood pores, cracks or crevices. They are active at night, readily fly and are attracted to light. The larvae will tunnel with the grain of the wood and cover the tunnels with fine powder like dust/frass that often will fall from the hole. They like both lumber (oak, hickory, ash and sometimes bamboo) and manufactured products. Determination of infestation activity and severity will determine the treatment plan. Replacement of damaged lumber or full … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beetles, Wood Destroying Pests

Subterranean Termite

(Reticulitermes flavipes) Although similar in looks to the ant, the termite is a different species of insect that evolved over 150 million years ago. There are more than 3,000 species worldwide and 47 species in the U.S. The two most destructive types of subterranean termites are the Eastern subterranean termite and the Formosan subterranean termite. Termites have a small, unicellular protozoan living inside of them that enables them to digest wood and other food. A typical native subterranean colony will contain 240,000 termites, but a typical Formosan colony will contain two to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Property Damaging Pests, Termites, What's Bugging Southeast Texas, Wood Destroying Pests

Formosan Termites

(Coptotermes formosanus) Swarming usually follows a warm rainy day in late spring/summer and occurs in the evening hours, starting at sundown and ending before midnight. The swarmers are attracted to lights. Formosans do have the capability of establishing secondary nests above ground if a constant moisture supply is available. An above ground nest is made of material called carton. It consists of soil and wood cemented together with saliva and feces. Suspended colonies of Formosan termites are more often encountered than the Native Eastern Subterranean termites.
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