What Termites Are in Arizona and How to Protect Your Home From Them
Termites are one of the most common urban pests in Arizona. They are active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, year round. Often, they go unnoticed for months before they cause critical damage to a home. Luckily, there are ways to protect your home from termites without a lot of financial investment.
Most of the damage that Arizona homes suffer from is caused by two types of drywood termites. These are the most destructive species of termites and are known to attack all kinds of wood.
The dark western drywood termite is the most widespread and damaging in Arizona. It attacks dead branches and solid structural wood on buildings and trees. It is transported in wood products and is known to infest stored lumber.
The desert subterranean termite is another species that thrives in the Arizona arid landscape. These termites have large heads with powerful pincers. They are found in high altitudes and can live in sand dunes and canyons. They are also known to infest living trees and wooden fences.
The arid-land subterranean termite is considered to be less destructive than other subterranean termites. These termites live in soil and build mud tubes to access the ground for food and moisture. The mud-tubes they construct are usually flattened and dirty in color.
They are the most commonly spotted in the Phoenix area. These termites are most active during the monsoon season. They will also be attracted to a variety of factors such as air conditioning systems, leaky pipes, and cracks in foundations.