Subterranean termites: the quiet threat under Arizona slab homes.

Identifying termites

Heterotermes aureus, Reticulitermes spp.

Two groups of subterranean termites cause most of the trouble in the Valley: the desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus) and arid-land subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes. Workers are small, soft and pale, and you rarely see them. What you see are the winged swarmers and the mud tubes the colony builds. Desert subterranean swarmers are small and pale yellow-brown. Arid-land swarmers are dark brown to nearly black. Both have two pairs of equal-length wings.

These termites nest in the soil and need moisture to survive. To reach wood without drying out, they build pencil-width tubes of soil and saliva up foundations, along stucco and inside wall voids. Desert subterranean termites usually swarm in the evening after summer monsoon rains, while arid-land species tend to swarm in spring.

Slab-on-grade homes with stucco are common across the West Valley, and termites find their way in through expansion joints, plumbing penetrations and cracks in the slab. Irrigation next to the foundation, soil piled above the weep screed and wood touching the ground all make it easier for them.

Why they matter

Termites eat the cellulose in wood, drywall paper and baseboards. Damage builds slowly and often hides behind stucco, drywall or flooring, so it can be well along before you see it. Termites do not bite people or carry disease. The cost is to the structure, which is why an inspection is worth doing before small activity becomes a repair project.

Signs of activity

• Mud tubes on the foundation, stucco, garage walls or coming out of drywall
• Piles of small, discarded wings near windows, doors or light fixtures
• Swarms of winged insects indoors after a monsoon storm or on a warm spring day
• Baseboards or trim that sound hollow, blister, or crumble when pressed
• Small pinholes in drywall packed with dried soil

Prevention tips for Arizona homes

• Keep soil, rock and landscaping below the stucco weep screed so you can see the foundation
• Point sprinklers and drip emitters away from the house and fix leaks quickly
• Store firewood, lumber and cardboard off the ground and away from the walls
• Do not let wood fences, trellises or planters touch both the soil and the house
• Keep downspouts and AC condensate lines draining away from the foundation
• Get a professional inspection when buying a home or if you see mud tubes

When to call a pro

Mud tubes or a swarm inside the house mean an active colony, and termites are not a DIY project. We start with a free inspection, show you exactly what Bryce found, and quote treatment separately. Termite treatment is backed by warranty, with honest findings and no scare tactics.