Drywood Termites

All About Drywood Termites In Singapore

The common name for a type of termite known as Kalotermitidae is drywood termites in Singapore. They are the second most damaging termite pest, since they have less moisture need than subterranean termites and lived entirely within wooden constructs.

Drywood Termites are difficult to get rid of as there is no termite baiting for them, which sets them apart from Subterranean Termites. If drilling affected areas is necessary, we will always seek your permission first.

How Do Drywood Termites Look Like?

Drywood termites can range in size from 1/4 to a full inch, depending on their age. Older drywood termites have an oval-shaped torso with short legs and straight antennae that match in length. Their color is often cream-white to light brown and possess six distinct legs.

Treatment Needed For Drywood Termites

> Foam Injection Treatment

This is the most effective and commonly used treatment method to eliminate drywood termites in Singapore. The entire process takes about 1 to 2 hours, depending on the size of your home.

Drilling several small holes in affected wood to deliver an insecticide directly into the termite colony has been used since the 1920s to treat drywood termite infestations that are accessible and detectable. An insecticide is inserted into tiny perforations made in any surface of timber, allowing it to be delivered right to the pest population.

This treatment’s required amount of drilling and effectiveness depends on the infestation’s chemical used and nature. Most chemicals will remain active in the wood after treatment to prevent reinfestation colonies.

Signs of Drywood Termites

The most obvious sign is faecal droppings seen near your wooden furniture.

Rather than using their droppings to create mud tunnels like other termite species, drywood termites leave them outside of their colonies in brown-coloured and grainy mounds.

Another sign is when your window or door frames start to function inadequately due as they feed on your internal wooden foundation.

Drywood Termites Habits

> What Do They Eat

The termite diet of drywood comprises cellulose in wood by digging galleries and eating along and across the grain, as well as hard wood.

In addition to door frames, wood skirting, and built-in cabinets, they feed on wood skirting.

> Their Habitat

Drywood Termites live completely within dry, sound wood, such as wooden cabinets, antique wood, doorframes whісh functions as a colony site and fооd ѕоurce.

Drywood termites do not nееd to maintain a soil contact as they are able to extract аll thе moisture they need from the wood they consume and metabolic processes.

> Their Behaviour

Drywood termites are more likely to be seen during the day than other termite species.

They build distinctive “kick-out holes” in wood, which are tiny piles of wood shavings below the hole.

Drywood termites can also be detected by their droppings, which are often referred to as “frass.” Frass is drywood termite excrement and is usually pushed out of the kick-out holes. It is hard, pellet-like, and 6-sided in shape.

Other Questions About Drywood Termites

Are drywood termites harmful?

Termites are generally safe for people, but they can be dangerous to houses. Termites are beneficial to the ecosystem by breaking down nutrients from dead plants and trees, however they are not preferred owing to their rampant destruction and property damage.

How fast do drywood termites spread?

Because termites’ colonies can spread up and sideways from where they reside and breed underground in the soil, it doesn’t matter if you live in a city or a rural area (more often for subterranean termites). Termite risks are also present at home.

Difference between drywood and subterranean termites

Subterranean termites dwell in the ground, while drywood termites build their nests inside the wood they are infesting.

Subterranean termites construct mud tunnels to access the ground and attack your house.

Subterranean termites are far more harmful since they cause more severe damage than drywood termites.

Rather than building large nests, drywood termites colonize small wood pieces.

Do drywood termites reproduce?

The drywood termites colony comprises of workers, soldiers, swarmers (flying termites) king, queen.

The wings allow them to leave their nests and mate. Termite swarms in the ground are larger and include more individuals than those in dry wood. Once an alate locates its “life partner,” it will settle down and start a new colony.