Can or Do termites live in the desert?

Question

what is the best way to avoid an invasion and the best way to deal with an invasion?

Answer 1

You betcha. The drier climate the better. I live in Tucson, Arizona and termites are a HUGE problem here. They move in almost immediately after building if you haven't treated the slab...even if you treat it, its a constant battle.

Answer 2

If you want to pass, you'd better learn the difference between a savannah and a desert. You don't happen to mean the Sahara, by any means, do you? If so, you don't need to follow it by "desert"; that's what "Sahara" means, in Arabic.

Answer 3

There are five main types of termites you should familiarize yourself with, depending on your location and your climate:

Eastern Subterranean Termites:
The most common type of termite in North America, the subterranean termite, (also known as the soil-feeding termite) feeds on wood, paper, cotton, and tree and shrub roots. Subterranean termites specifically crave the cellulose part of wood. An Eastern subterranean termite colony can have anywhere from 20,000 to five million termites, with an average of 30,000 termites in a termite colony. Subterranean termite colonies can be found in several sections of a building, evidenced by mud tubes, termite tunnels, and translucent termite wings. The termite king and termite queen of the colony shed their termite wings, but the worker termites and soldier termites do not. Eastern subterranean termites have swarming intelligence, and their swarm season usually takes place in spring. Some Eastern subterranean termites can exist above ground, and their termite colonies usually live up to 30 years!

Formosan Subterranean Termites:
The Formosan subterranean termite, which can be found in the southern part of the U.S. and Hawaii, is often called the “super termite” because of its ability to consume large amounts of wood quickly. In fact, an adult Formosan subterranean termite colony can eat as much as 13 ounces of wood per day. In the same timeframe, the Formosan subterranean termite queen usually produces 1,300 termite eggs. Usually found when swarming, Formosan subterranean termites are ruthless and can cause more damage when the swarm season is over, even attacking non wood materials like plaster, plastic, and even metal.

Western Subterranean Termites:
This stealthy white ant is the most common termite in the western half of the continent. The Western subterranean termite can enter structures through cracks less than 1/16" wide in pipes, concrete and foundations, and they usually build their termite nests and lay their termite eggs in the ground, below the frost line but above rock and water tables. Specifically, subterranean termites crave the cellulose part of wood. Tell-tale signs of Western subterranean termites include termite swarming behavior and termite tunnels.

Desert Subterranean Termites:
Commonly found in dry climates such as those in northwestern Mexico, southern California, and southern Arizona, desert subterranean termites are unique in that they have slender and straight mandibles compared to the more curved, thicker mandibles of most subterranean termites. Desert subterranean termites are the only types of termites that can forage under dry conditions. These soil-feeding termites build narrow 6-12" mud tubes that hang from ceilings, shelves, and overhangs. Specifically, subterranean termites crave the cellulose part of wood.

What you should know about desert subterranean termites as a homeowner: Both desert subterranean soldier termites and worker termites are small, so they can penetrate small cracks in your home that cannot be penetrated by other worker termites and soldier termites.

Drywood termites:
Drywood termites are so named because they actually live in dry wood. Drywood termite infestations can occur in any dry wood from pieces of furniture to picture frames to flooring. Although there are more than 400 drywood termite species in the world, there are only a few types in the U.S. – the Powderpost termites or “furniture termites” that inhabit the southeast and middle parts of the country, and the western drywood termite that can be found mostly in the southwest. The typical drywood termite colony is relatively small, and there are often multiple drywood termite colonies in the same home. Unlike soil-feeding termites, drywood termites do not need soil. Instead, drywood termites create large termite tunnels across the wood grain.

If you suspect you may have termite infestation of any one of the above types of termites, you should hire a Termidor Certified pest control professional to perform a termite inspection. If your termite inspection reveals termite infestation, the Termidor Certified exterminator will be able to take care of the termite problem quickly, so you don’t experience any extensive termite damage in your home.

Answer 4

Not only do they live in the desert, but they "THRIVE" there. Excellent conditions for them to live and "mulitply".

Answer 5

You bet they do. Dry climates are ideal for them.