There have been 15 species of termites found in California but only two species need concern homeowners, the subterranean and the dried termites.
Wood is their food source.
Both can do great damage to the structural timbers in a residence but the two have different methods of attack. Although the focus of this article is on the dried termite, familiarity with the subterranean termite is needed. The subterranean termite must live in moist soil or where there is a continuous source of moisture. It reaches wood not in direct contact with the soil by building soil tubes up the foundation walls. Thus protected from the desiccating elements it can forage for lignin products on which to feed.