Drywood Termite Control
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Drywood Termite Treatment
Stride Pest Control provides drywood termite control for homes and businesses across Central Texas, where this termite nests inside dry, sound wood with no contact with the soil at all. Drywood termites are hard to detect on your own because entire colonies live sealed inside attic beams, framing, furniture, and trim, giving themselves away mainly through the piles of pellets they push out.
Stride treats drywood termites through the Stride Forward integrated pest management process, and because they live in the wood rather than the soil, treatment targets the infested wood directly rather than the soil barriers used for subterranean termites.
Every treatment is backed by a same-day service option and a satisfaction guarantee. Drywood termites are one of several termites Stride treats, covered under our broader termite control and general pest control services.
Drywood Termites In Central Texas
The drywood termite breaks the usual termite rules by living entirely inside dry wood, with no need for soil or mud tubes.
| Trait | Drywood Termite |
|---|---|
| Nesting | Inside dry, sound wood, with no soil contact needed |
| Where they infest | Attic beams, framing, trim, hardwood floors, and furniture |
| The telltale sign | Piles of six-sided fecal pellets pushed out through kick-out holes |
| Colonies | Smaller and slower-growing than subterranean colonies |
| How they spread | Swarmers fly to exposed wood, or they arrive in infested furniture |
| Not subterranean | They do not build mud tubes or need contact with the ground |
Because they live in the wood and not the soil, drywood termites are found and treated differently from subterranean termites, which the Texas A&M AgriLife guide to drywood termites details.
Signs You Have Drywood Termites
Drywood termites hide inside the wood, but they leave clear evidence:
- Piles of tiny six-sided pellets (frass) below infested wood.
- Small kick-out holes in the surface of the wood.
- Discarded wings near windows after a swarm.
- Hollow-sounding wood in attics, framing, or furniture.
- Swarmers emerging from wood, especially in warm weather.
Are Drywood Termites Dangerous?
Drywood termites are a structural pest, not a health threat. They work more slowly than subterranean termites, but they live directly in structural wood, framing, and furniture, and a single structure can hold multiple colonies.
Over years, the damage accumulates in attics, beams, and trim, often unnoticed until the pellets appear. Because the colonies are sealed inside the wood, catching them early through inspection makes a real difference.
How We Get Rid of Drywood Termites
Stride treats drywood termites through the five-step Stride Forward process, targeting the wood itself:
- Inspect. We check attics, framing, trim, and furniture for pellets, kick-out holes, and galleries.
- Identify. We confirm drywood termites, distinguished by pellets and the absence of mud tubes, rather than subterranean termites.
- Recommend. We match the approach to the extent of the infestation, from localized to whole-structure.
- Treat. For contained infestations we inject treatment directly into the galleries; for widespread activity, whole-structure fumigation is used. Soil barriers do not apply, since drywood termites do not live in the soil.
- Evaluate. We follow up to confirm the colonies are eliminated.
Our GreenPro certification guides this reduced-risk approach.
How to Keep Drywood Termites Away
Keeping drywood termites out is about protecting and monitoring the wood:
- Seal and paint exposed wood, which deters swarmers from entering.
- Screen attic and foundation vents to keep swarmers out.
- Inspect used furniture and wood items before bringing them inside.
- Fill cracks and joints in exposed wood where swarmers enter.
- Watch for pellets and have suspect wood inspected early.
Drywood Termite Control Frequently Asked Questions
What are the little piles of pellets near my wood?
Those are drywood termite frass, six-sided fecal pellets they push out through kick-out holes. Small piles of them below wood are the classic sign of drywood termites.
How are drywood termites different from subterranean termites?
Drywood termites live inside dry wood with no soil contact and build no mud tubes, while subterranean termites nest in the soil and tube up to reach wood. That difference is why they are treated in completely different ways.
How are drywood termites treated?
Localized injection into the galleries handles contained infestations, while whole-structure fumigation is used when they are widespread. Soil barriers do not work, since drywood termites never live in the soil.
Can drywood termites come in on furniture?
Yes. Drywood termites can arrive inside infested furniture and other wood items, which is one of the main ways they spread into a new home.
THE STRIDE FORWARD PROGRAM
Our Strategic ECO-BASED Protocol
Stride Forward is our Integrated Pest Management program where we partner with our clients in the long-term removal and prevention of pests. Keeping your property free of unwanted insects and rodents works best when we work together.
The program combines habitat manipulation, biological control, cultural behavior changes, and the targeted use of products designed to repel or eradicate pests. Our approach follows five steps, with non-chemical methods prioritized before any product application.
Our Certifications & Awards
Stride Pest Control holds QualityPro and GreenPro certifications through the NPMA’s Foundation for Professional Pest Management, and fewer than 3% of pest control companies nationwide hold both. QualityPro requires background checks on every service member, a drug-free workplace, and 16 standards that exceed state and federal requirements.
Our Austin and Round Rock office operates under Texas Department of Agriculture license TPCL #667951, with Burton Johnston as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our San Antonio office operates under TPCL #827449, with Alex Randall as Responsible Certified Applicator. Our office manager, Michael Honeycutt, is an Associate Certified Entomologist through the Entomological Society of America.
Founded in 2013, we have served nearly 12,000 customers across Central Texas and hold a 4.9-star rating across 2,400+ reviews with an A+ from the BBB.
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Stride Pest Control received an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars
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