Termites in Vallejo: Drywood vs Subterranean Termites
Termites work quietly, and most homeowners never see them until the damage is done. In Vallejo we deal with two main kinds: drywood termites, which live inside the wood itself, and western subterranean termites, which live in the soil and tunnel up into the house. A third kind, dampwood termites, shows up in wet, rotting wood.
Each one lives differently, leaves different signs and needs a different treatment. This guide explains all three so you know what you are looking at.
Think you have termites? Call (707) 000-0000 to book a termite inspection in Vallejo.
Why Vallejo homes get termites
Vallejo has a lot of what termites like:
- Older wood-frame homes. Victorians and craftsman homes in the Vallejo Old City and St. Vincent’s Hill historic districts, and the many homes built in the 1940s and 1950s, have decades of exposed wood in attics, eaves and window trim.
- Raised foundations and crawl spaces. Common in central and south Vallejo, they give subterranean termites easy access from the soil.
- Bay moisture. Fog and damp air off San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait keep wood around the waterfront, Mare Island and Glen Cove moist.
- Mild weather. Colonies stay active all year.
- Wood touching soil. Fences, decks, porch steps and garden beds built up against the siding.
The three termites you will find in Vallejo
Drywood termites
Western drywood termites are the termites most often behind tenting in Northern California. They live in small colonies entirely inside dry, sound wood: attic framing, rafters, eaves, window and door frames, fascia boards and furniture. They do not need contact with soil.
- Key sign: small piles of hard, six-sided pellets (frass) that look like coarse sand or ground pepper, under kick-out holes in wood.
- Swarm season: sunny, warm days from late summer through fall, often after a heat spell.
- Spread: a home can have several separate colonies in different spots.
- How bad it gets: slower than subterranean termites, but colonies can go unnoticed for years.
Western subterranean termites
Western subterranean termites are the most destructive termites in Northern California. They live in large colonies underground and travel into the house through mud tubes, cracks in the foundation and wood that touches soil.
- Key sign: pencil-width mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, crawl space posts and inside walls. Damaged wood is packed with soil and looks layered.
- Swarm season: after the first fall rains, and on warm days after rain in spring.
- Spread: one colony can be very large and feed in many places at once.
- How bad it gets: faster damage than drywood termites, often hidden behind walls and floors.
Dampwood termites
Dampwood termites are larger and need wet, decaying wood. They are less common inside homes but we find them in rotting fence posts, old decks, stumps and wood near leaks or poor drainage.
- Key sign: large termites in soft, wet, decayed wood. Pellets may be present.
- Swarm season: late summer and fall evenings.
- Fix: removing the moisture and replacing the rotted wood usually takes care of them.
Drywood vs subterranean termites: side-by-side
| Drywood termites | Subterranean termites | |
|---|---|---|
| Where they live | Inside dry wood above ground | In the soil, tunneling into wood |
| Need soil contact? | No | Yes, or a constant moisture source |
| Mud tubes | No | Yes |
| Droppings | Hard pellets piled under wood | Not usually visible; damage packed with mud |
| Damage pattern | Smooth, clean galleries across the grain | Layered galleries along the grain, filled with soil |
| Colony size | Small, often several colonies | Large, one colony can feed in many places |
| Common spots | Attics, eaves, window frames, fascia, furniture | Foundations, crawl spaces, floor joists, sill plates, door frames near soil |
| Swarm season in Vallejo | Late summer to fall, sunny days | First fall rains and warm spring days after rain |
| Usual treatment | Fumigation (tenting) or local treatment | Soil treatment or baits, plus moisture fixes |
How to tell which termite you have
- Pellets piling up on a windowsill or under the attic framing: drywood termites.
- Mud tubes on the foundation or a crawl space post: subterranean termites.
- Swarmers in the house after the first big rain in October or November: usually subterranean termites.
- Swarmers on a hot, sunny fall afternoon coming out of the eaves or attic: usually drywood termites.
- Large termites in rotting, wet wood: dampwood termites.
Seeing winged insects and not sure if they are termites at all? Read flying termites vs flying ants. For a full checklist of what to look for, see signs of termites.
How each termite is treated
The type of termite decides the treatment, which is why a proper inspection comes first.
Treating drywood termites
- Fumigation (tenting): the whole house is covered and filled with a gas fumigant that reaches every colony in the structure, including ones nobody can see. It is the usual choice when drywood termites are widespread or hidden in walls.
- Local or spot treatment: for small colonies in wood that can be reached, such as one window frame or a section of eave. Options include drilling and injecting a product into the wood, heat treatment and wood replacement.
Treating subterranean termites
- Soil treatment: a liquid termiticide is applied in the soil around the foundation and at entry points, creating a treated zone the termites cannot get through without contact.
- Baits: bait stations around the house that termites carry back to the colony.
- Moisture and wood-to-soil fixes: fixing leaks, improving drainage and removing wood that touches soil. Without this, termites tend to return.
Treating dampwood termites
Remove the moisture source and replace the rotted wood. Chemical treatment is rarely the main fix.
For how we inspect and what each treatment involves, see our termite control in Vallejo page. For what goes into the price, see the termite treatment and tenting cost guide.
Termite inspections and WDO reports in California
In California, a termite inspection for a home sale is called a wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspection. The report lists:
- Section 1: active infestations or damage found now, such as live termites or fungus damage.
- Section 2: conditions likely to lead to an infestation, such as wood touching soil or a plumbing leak.
Only companies licensed by the Structural Pest Control Board for Branch 3 (wood-destroying organisms) can do these inspections and reports. Buying or selling in Vallejo? Most buyers and lenders ask for one.
How to lower your termite risk
- Keep soil and mulch at least six inches below wood siding.
- Do not stack firewood or lumber against the house.
- Fix leaks under sinks, in crawl spaces and around the water heater.
- Keep gutters and downspouts flowing away from the foundation.
- Keep crawl space vents clear so the area stays dry.
- Seal cracks and exposed wood with paint or sealant.
- Get an inspection every few years, more often in older homes.
Termites in Vallejo: common questions
What kind of termites are in Vallejo?
Mostly western drywood termites and western subterranean termites. Dampwood termites also show up in wet, decaying wood around decks, fences and leaks.
Which is worse, drywood or subterranean termites?
Subterranean termites usually cause faster, more widespread damage because their colonies are larger. Drywood termites spread more slowly but can be hidden in many spots across the house and often need fumigation.
When do termites swarm in Vallejo?
Subterranean termites swarm after the first fall rains and on warm spring days after rain. Drywood termites swarm on warm, sunny days from late summer through fall.
Do I need to tent my house for termites?
Only if drywood termites are widespread or in places that cannot be reached for local treatment. Subterranean termites are not treated by tenting. They are treated in the soil or with baits.
Can you see termites?
Rarely. Termites avoid light and stay inside wood or mud tubes. Most people see the signs instead: pellets, mud tubes, discarded wings or damaged wood.
Are termites covered by homeowners insurance?
Usually not. Most policies treat termite damage as preventable maintenance. Check your own policy for details.
Worried about termites in your Vallejo home?
The earlier termites are found, the smaller the treatment. Call (707) 000-0000 to book a termite inspection, and we will tell you which termite you have, where it is and what it takes to treat it.