Drywood termites
Drywood Termite Inspection & Treatment
Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat, with no connection to the soil. Zap finds where the colonies are and recommends the treatment that fits, from a local treatment to whole-structure fumigation.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Send a message any time.
How to spot drywood termites
- Small piles of hard, six-sided pellets that look like sand or ground pepper, often under windows, door frames and attic beams
- Tiny round kick-out holes in wood, sometimes sealed with a brown plug
- Swarms of winged termites on warm late summer and fall days
- Blistered paint or wood that sounds hollow when tapped
Where they show up in Sacramento area homes
Drywood termites like dry, sound wood that gets warm: attic rafters and sheathing, eaves and fascia, window and door frames, siding and wood furniture. Older homes in established neighborhoods see them most often, but newer homes are not immune, especially where wood trim and patio covers get afternoon sun.
Treatment options
Local treatment works when the colonies are limited and the wood can be reached. We treat the infested wood directly.
Structural fumigation is recommended when colonies are spread through walls, attics and framing that cannot be reached. Tenting treats every piece of wood inside the structure at once.
We recommend fumigation only when the inspection shows it is needed. After treatment, damaged boards can be replaced through our wood repair service.
Drywood or subterranean?
Pellets point to drywood termites. Mud tubes point to subterranean termites. Some homes have both. A termite inspection sorts it out. Learn more in our drywood termite guide.
We serve Rio Linda, Sacramento, North Highlands, Antelope, Citrus Heights, Carmichael, Fair Oaks, Roseville, Rocklin, Lincoln, Granite Bay, Rancho Cordova, Folsom, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Davis, Woodland, Auburn, Placerville, Napa, Fairfield, Stockton and Lodi. Call (916) 999-9747 Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM, or send a message below.
FAQ
Drywood termites questions
What do drywood termite pellets look like?
They are tiny, hard, six-sided pellets, about the size of a grain of sand, in colors from tan to dark brown. They often collect in small piles below infested wood.
Can drywood termites be treated without tenting?
Yes, when the activity is limited and the wood can be reached. Fumigation is recommended when colonies are widespread or hidden in areas that cannot be reached.
When do drywood termites swarm?
In the Sacramento area, drywood termites usually swarm on warm days in late summer and fall.
Do drywood termites come from the soil?
No. They live entirely inside the wood. They spread when winged swarmers fly to new wood, or through infested furniture and lumber.
More services
Other services from Zap
We also treat bed bugs, spiders and other common household pests. See all services on our home page.
- Termite control
- Termite inspection
- Subterranean termites
- Fumigation
- Rodent control
- WDO inspections
- Escrow and real estate
- Cockroach control
- Ant control
- Spider control
- Bed bug treatment
- General pest control
- Recurring pest service
- Commercial pest control
- Property managers
- Restaurants
- Wood repair
- Dry rot and fungus
- Home
Contact
Schedule service with Zap
Tell us about your drywood termites needs. Call during phone hours, or send a message any time.
(916) 999-9747- office@zappest.com
- Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM
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