Subterranean termites are responsible for the vast majority of termite damage in Virginia and across the eastern United States. Hampton Roads sits in a particularly high-risk zone due to our warm climate, sandy soils, and proximity to water, all of which create ideal conditions for large subterranean termite colonies.
These termites live in underground colonies that can contain hundreds of thousands to over a million individuals. Worker termites travel through the soil or through mud tubes they construct to reach wood above ground. They feed on cellulose, the main structural component of wood, and can consume wood 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Unlike drywood termites, which live entirely within the wood they consume, subterranean termites require contact with soil moisture to survive. This is why they build mud tubes, which are pencil-width tunnels made of soil, wood particles, and saliva, to travel between their underground colony and above-ground food sources while maintaining the moisture they need.
This soil dependency also determines the treatment approach. Because subterranean termites must travel through soil to reach your home, soil-applied treatments that create a barrier between the colony and the structure are highly effective.
Mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, plumbing pipes, and other vertical surfaces are the most distinctive sign of subterranean termite activity. These tubes are usually about the diameter of a pencil and may be found on both interior and exterior surfaces. Swarms of winged termites, called alates, emerging indoors or around the foundation during spring indicate a mature, established colony in or near the structure.
Wood damage from subterranean termites follows the grain and has a layered, almost papery appearance. Damaged wood often retains its exterior appearance while being hollowed out from within, making visual detection difficult without probing.
Liquid soil treatments remain the gold standard for subterranean termite control. Non-repellent termiticides are applied to the soil around and beneath the foundation, creating a continuous barrier that termites cannot detect. Workers pass through the treated zone and carry the product back to the colony, providing both immediate protection and colony elimination.
Bait station systems offer an alternative or complementary approach. In-ground stations installed around the perimeter are monitored regularly, and when termite activity is detected, the cellulose monitoring material is replaced with a bait matrix containing a slow-acting insect growth regulator. Workers feed on the bait and share it with the colony, gradually eliminating the entire population.
Many properties benefit from a combination of liquid treatment for immediate protection and bait stations for ongoing monitoring and long-term colony management. Our subterranean termite services are customized to your property's specific needs and backed by our service warranty.
Learn everything that you need to know about subterranean termite control.
