Subterranean termites are treated using the methods and procedures listed on the product label. Drywood termites are commonly treated using fumigation, wood removal or borate products for spot applications. All termites subsist on cellulose, which termites get from wood. Termites are social insects with a highly organized caste system, much like ants or bees. Subterranean termites usually live outside the house in underground nests.
Subterranean termites use moisture in the earth to survive.
Since subterranean termites also need cellulose, they often tunnel into nearby homes to get it. Drywood termites, on the other hand, need no contact with the earth. Drywood termites live right inside the homes that they devour. Subterranean termites usually return to the soil to live and reproduce, and are found throughout Texas. Drywood termites, found more commonly in coastal areas such as Houston and Corpus Christi, do not have soil contact but can live inside walls or other wooden building materials.