Both cause real damage, but they live differently — and that changes how we treat them.
Subterranean termites nest in the soil and travel into structures through mud tubes, needing contact with the ground or moisture. Drywood termites live entirely inside the wood itself, with no soil contact required at all — they can infest furniture, framing, even wood brought in from elsewhere.
Subterranean colonies can be large and spread through a structure via their mud-tube network. Drywood colonies tend to stay more localized within a single piece of wood or a small area, though multiple separate infestations can exist in the same home.
Subterranean termites are typically treated with soil treatments or bait systems (like Sentricon) that target the colony at its source. Drywood termites, since they live inside the wood with no soil connection, are usually treated with tent fumigation for whole-structure infestations, or localized treatment for a single contained area.
Mud tubes point to subterranean. Small pellet-like frass near the wood points to drywood. Discarded wings can come from either, so a proper inspection is the reliable way to confirm which type — and it changes what treatment actually makes sense.
Not sure which type you're dealing with? Call us at (754) 243-8704.