Definity Pest Services · DFW
Subterranean termites (Reticulitermes species) live in the soil and tunnel up into homes through mud tubes to feed on wood. They are the most destructive structural pest in Texas, causing billions in damage nationally each year. Signs include mud tubes, spring swarms, and hollow-sounding wood; control requires a professional barrier or bait system.
Quick reference
Identification
You rarely see the workers (cream-colored, soft-bodied) because they stay hidden in wood and soil. What you do see are pencil-width mud tubes on foundations and piers, and spring swarms of dark, winged reproductives near windows — followed by piles of discarded, equal-length wings.
Where it's found
- Soil
- Foundations
- Wooden structures
- Mud tubes on piers and foundations
Risk level
- Major structural damage
- Millions of dollars in damage annually
- Damage often hidden for years
Signs of activity
- Pencil-width mud tubes
- Hollow-sounding wood
- Spring swarms of winged termites
- Piles of discarded equal-length wings
How Definity treats it
- Install a liquid termiticide barrier around the foundation
- Place in-ground bait stations to eliminate the colony
- Choose barrier, bait, or a combination based on foundation type
- Re-inspect annually to keep the protection and warranty active
How to identify subterranean termites
You rarely see the workers (cream-colored, soft-bodied) because they stay hidden in wood and soil. What you do see are pencil-width mud tubes on foundations and piers, and spring swarms of dark, winged reproductives near windows — followed by piles of discarded, equal-length wings.
Behavior & biology
Subterranean termite colonies live underground and can number in the hundreds of thousands. They maintain moisture by building mud tubes between the soil and their food, and the clay soils across DFW give them year-round foundation access. Mature colonies release winged swarmers in spring to start new colonies.
Why subterranean termites matter
These termites silently eat structural wood from the inside out — sill plates, studs, subfloor, and trim — often for years before discovery. By the time a baseboard crumbles or a floor sags, significant repair may already be needed. They cause more structural loss in Texas than fires and storms combined.
DIY vs. professional control
There is no effective DIY termite treatment for an active structural infestation — over-the-counter products can't establish a continuous soil barrier or eliminate a colony. Professional control means a liquid termiticide barrier around the foundation, an in-ground bait system, or both, installed correctly and renewed annually.
How Definity treats subterranean termites
Definity treats subterranean termites with a liquid termiticide barrier, in-ground bait stations, or a combination chosen for your foundation type, then keeps the protection and warranty active with annual re-inspection. Because Definity both inspects and treats, real-estate findings can be documented and resolved in one coordinated process.
Fast facts
- Subterranean termites are responsible for the majority of the estimated $5 billion in termite damage U.S. property owners pay for annually.
- North Texas clay soils stay moist enough year-round to give subterranean termites continuous access to home foundations, making annual inspection essential.
Visual ID
What subterranean termites look like
Real reference photos to help you identify subterranean termites before they become a bigger problem.
How we treat it
Barrier Treatment
Applying a targeted barrier treatment to stop pests at the perimeter, before they ever get inside.
Questions, answered
Subterranean Termites FAQ
What's the first sign of subterranean termites?
Usually pencil-width mud tubes on the foundation, or a spring swarm of winged termites near windows followed by piles of discarded wings. Hollow-sounding or blistered wood is another warning sign.
How often should I have a termite inspection?
Annually in North Texas. The soil here gives termites year-round foundation access, and an annual inspection catches activity before it becomes expensive structural damage.
Get help with subterranean termites: General Pest Control, General Pest Control
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