Cryptotermes: Drywood powderpost termites

CRYPTOTERMES drywood termites are generally found in humid coastal areas but can be discovered in other areas due to human transportation via wooden products and timber.

This type of termite tends to infest structural timbers of buildings and also other dry timbers with low moisture content. These termites do not require contact with the cool, moist soil to remain alive like their sub-terranean cousins. They get their moisture from the wood that they are living in.

Drywood termites are short, thick and almost black in the front part of the body. The mandibles are curved under the head.

The damage created by this species can be recognised by the little faecal pellets that are dispensed via little holes in the timber. These little holes are temporary and are later closed up by the termies. The pellets are hard and oval in shape.

Drywood termite colonies are generally found within the four walls of a building and its not uncommon to have more than one colony in one building as colonies are generally smaller than other types of termites, only numbering in the few thousand.