Eastern Subterranean Termites:

Subterranean Termites are either a dark brown or black in color, about ¼ to ½ inch long with two pairs of wings equally close in length. The worker caste does not have wings and is cream-colored, whereas the soldiers also do not have wings but possess large mandibles and are cream-colored but their heads are a brown hue.

Signs of Infestation:

A subterranean termite's damage to wood usually has an accumulation of soil or mud within tunnels of wood they feed on. These termites only eat softwood, so the wood appears to be layered.

Formosan Termites:

Formosan Termites prefer warm climates and are highly dense in population south of the U.S. However, they are becoming more commonly sighted as far north as New York. The head of this termite is oblong in comparison to the rectangular-shaped head of the subterranean termite. The swarmers, or adult termites, are a yellow hue and are, on average, about ½ inch long. Additionally, they have small hairs on their transparent wings.

Signs of Infestation:

Formosan Termites consume wood and leave behind smooth-sided galleries. Their damage to wood also causes walls or other structural areas to sag.

Drywood Termites:

Drywood Termites in their mature stage have two sets of wings. Although, it is important to note that swarmers shed their wings quickly, so most dead swarmer bodies do not have attached wings. On average, they measure 12mm in length.

Signs of Infestation:

Drywood Termites' damage is recognizable in that they cut across the grain of wood, leaving a characteristic pattern of chambers and tunnels in which fecal pellets are left behind. These fecal pellets, which are distinctive in appearance with six longitudinal flattened sides, may be the first sign of their presence.