A Homeowner's Guide to Termites in Texas

These termites build colonies underground and reach homes through mud tubes. They often enter through slab cracks, expansion joints, or gaps around plumbing. Damage usually begins inside the wood—the outer surface may look normal even after the interior has been hollowed out. Subterranean swarmers are dark brown to black.

Formosan termites are a bigger concern in coastal Texas. Their colonies can grow very large, which means they can cause significant damage once they get established near a home. They may spread through infested wood used in landscaping or construction, so activity can sometimes start before a homeowner realizes there's a problem. Formosan swarmers are yellowish brown.

Drywood termites are more common in Gulf Coast and South-Central Texas than in the drier western parts of the state. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not need soil contact—they live inside the wood they infest, so they can be harder to spot at first. One of the clearest signs is frass: tiny, hard pellets that may collect beneath trim, furniture, or exposed wood. Drywood swarmers tend toward reddish brown.

Not every termite in Texas is a threat to your home. Desert termites are common in West Texas grasslands, where they break down dead roots and plant material and help return nutrients to the soil. Agricultural termites feed on live grasses and weeds, so they may affect turf, pasture, or forage areas. Desert termites are pale yellow to light brown, and neither group typically damages house framing, flooring, or other structural wood.