Albuquerque Subterranean Termites underground sonoduct ductwork

Subterranean termites in the
crawlspace of a residential home.
Picture on left is the termite
tubing building up a support and
picture on the right is termite
termite tubing dropping from
the girder supporting.

(Click to view larger image)

First things first. If you are seeing tiny light brown pellets sifting from a wall, overhead wooden member or
gathering in small piles around window or doors, you are not dealing with subterranean termites, but instead are
dealing with drywood termites. If so, please refer to the drywood termite page of this site. Having said that,
subterranean termites are the most destructive termite in New Mexico (possibly due to the sheer numbers that make
up an average colony). Unlike Drywood termites (which can have upwards of a few thousand members per colony),
the Subterranean termite colony can number more than a million members.

Moisture sources for termites in your home- Subterranean termites require moisture to survive or thrive in an
environment. For this reason, infestations are normally found when remodeling a bathroom or kitchen area. In a
kitchen or bathroom, termites gain entrance into the structure from one of several locations; tub-trap cut-out in the
slab, up the copper water lines (due to condensation), the drain lines, or beneath the tub or shower pan. Other
entry points for subterranean termites are the seams from floating or supported concrete slab constructed
structures, behind exterior siding or stucco, up through settling cracks, plumbing protrusion lines or expansion
cracks in garages. If the structure is a crawlspace, then you will find the termites building either free-standing tubing
from the ground to the floor joists or tubing building up the foundation walls and/or pier post supports and into the
joists or bottom sill plates.

Ground contact is a must for this termite- Subterranean termites must maintain contact with the soil (for
replenishing purposes) unless the structure that they are feeding upon has a plumbing leak, or some other source
of moisture (above ground) for the termite. Interestingly enough, the very soil that they need to stay in contact with,
also contains bacteria that, if not removed, will kill the termite. As a result, the subterranean termite workers
must constantly groom themselves along with the other members of the colony.

Termite mud-tubing- Unlike Drywood termites, the Subterranean termite will construct a mud-like shelter tubing
made up of fecal material and a glue-like substance that binds the tubing together through which they can
accomplish all of their activities. There are no pellets with Subterranean termites and the mud-like tubing is divided
up into three types known as; exploratory tubing, drop tubing and working tubing. Exploratory tubing is also known
as migratory tubing and can often be found in the crawlspace beneath a home on the surface of the ground.

Flying termites- Subterranean termite swarmer's (reproductives) are dark brown to black with grayish colored
wings and are much smaller than Drywood termites. Swarming termites are approximately 1/4 inch in length. Note:
one of the differences between "flying termites" and "flying ants" is in the length and type of wings. Termite wings will
be much larger than the body whereas an ants wings are almost at equal length with the body. Ants and termites
each have two pair of wings, however, the wings of the termite are of equal length and the ants wings are not of
equal length. Swarmers are often seen on sunny days in the spring (particularly after a rain) but can also be seen in
the fall.

Treatment for Subterranean termites is entirely different than that of Drywood termites. Treatment for
subterranean termites can involve either establishing a repellent barrier around the structure (in the soil) or
installing a subterranean termite bait/monitor system in the ground around the structure. The barrier method is
known as a "conventional" treatment. We use a product called PREMISE. Unlike a true repellent barrier, PREMISE
forms what is known as a non-repellent treated zone. Why is that important? When a repellent pesticide is applied to
the soil beneath the structure, the applicator has no way of knowing if the pesticide is spreading to the intended
areas. Any imperfections (in application beneath the structure) can allow for termite entry; because the termites will
simply go around the repellent pesticide and find an area that was not treated. With a non-repellent treated zone,
you can have the same application imperfections, but have entirely different results. Termites pass right through the
treated zone (of the non-repellent PREMISE) never knowing that they have travelled through it, come in contact with
the product and pass it on to other colony members; thereby effecting the overall results of the application.

Termite bait systems are designed to draw termites into the bait stations by initially placing a piece of wood
(usually pine) into the station and allowing the termites to feed upon the wood; thereby gaining their confidence.
After a period of time, the piece of wood is replaced with the actual bait (stomach poison) and the hope is that the
termites will continue to feed upon the bait and eventually effect the results of the termite colony and the termite
pressure at that particular structure. Some companies will go so far as to claim termite colony elimination; although
that may be an assumption based upon the lack of continued activity (suppressed might be a better word). Localized
treatments (with a pesticide solution) will also need to be applied to areas of active infestation in the structure; in
conjunction with the bait system. Bait systems alone (in our opinion) will not solve the termite problem. One of the
reasons why we believe a bait system alone will not solve a termite problem is that termite workers and soldiers are
blind and cannot see the bait/monitor stations. Termites (through random foraging) will encounter the bait/monitor
stations. And, it is because of a termites random foraging behavior, that you will normally see anywhere from 15-40
bait/monitor stations installed (for the average 1500 square foot home) around the perimeter of a home (at
approximately 5-10 foot intervals). We witnessed an interesting occurrence (a while back in Los Alamos) at a home
that we were inspecting for a real estate transaction. The homeowner had a different company install a bait system
around the perimeter of his home to control subterranean termites. When it came time to sell his home, the buyers
agent (wanting a second impartial inspection) hired our company to perform the termite inspection. Upon inspection
we discovered that the home had evidence of live termites and it also had damaged sill plates in the basement.
Ironically, the live termites and damage were found approximately 3 feet away from a wall mounted bait station that
was installed in addition to the exterior ground stations. Obviously outraged that he still had live termites and
damage (after paying a few thousand dollars for the termite bait system), the homeowner and his real estate agent
asked us if the other company had done anything wrong with the bait system installation. Our answer was no, and
that it had appeared that the company had performed the installation correctly. We also explained that it was due to
the very nature of the termite (and their random foraging pattern) that this incident occurred. This is the reason that
we recommend localized treatments (of a pesticide) be applied to areas of infestation, in conjunction with the bait
system installation. Accompanying the baiting program should be a periodic visual inspection of the property (which
is probably the most important factor in the success of the program). Periodic inspections should be performed at a
minimum of once a year or sooner (and as long as the home is under guarantee).

For more information about treatments, see the "treatments" section of this site.

Termite shelter tubing building
up the stem wall of a garage.

Termite tubing on side of a tub

Same tubing up the side of a tub.

A dryer venting into a crawlspace
(besides a fire hazard), can create
a moist environment in the crawl
that can attract termites.

You need Java to see this applet.

Subterranean Termites

Perry's Termite & Pest Control

(505) 503-8339

See photos of some of our repair work on our "Repair Photos" page

(3 Pictures above): a home with an in-floor heat register system that had termite damage to the underground
ducting (cardboard-type material often referred to as Sonoduct). This system was replaced with metal ductwork.
Owner initially called after seeing live termites flying out of her floor heat registers. Our duct camera inspection
revealed Subterranean termites eating the ductwork. For more information on Termites in Sonoduct, click
on "Handyman" to the left.

Termites in underground duct system (Sonoduct) found mainly in the Southwest:

Service to: Albuquerque, Rio Rancho,
Corrales, Placitas, East Mountains,
Los Lunas, Santa Fe, Los Alamos