Claim: Are Rare Drywood Termites Being Found In Oklahoma?

There’s a Facebook post making the rounds that caught my attention, mostly because it involved something I had never really thought about: termites that apparently don’t need the ground.

The post came from a pest control company, so yes, there was an obvious sales pitch attached to it. But buried in all of that was a pretty interesting claim about a type of termite that isn’t supposed to be a common sight around Southwest Oklahoma.

Drywood Termites

According to the post, one of the company’s technicians had spotted what appeared to be an active swarm. The company called it something they rarely see in this part of the country, and after doing some digging of my own, I can see why.

Oklahoma State University says drywood termites are not native to Oklahoma, but they have been found here before. Apparently, they occasionally hitch a ride into the state inside infested lumber, furniture, firewood, pallets, and other wood products.

That part actually checked out. And to be fair, when you think about termites, you picture the ones that come up out of the ground and attack your house from underneath.

Those are the types of termites we’re used to dealing with in Oklahoma. The little mud tubes on the outside of your backyard sheds and buildings.

Drywood termites play a completely different game.

They live inside dry wood above the ground. Not in the soil. No mud tubes running up your foundation. They can thrive in places like your roof framing, siding, furniture, or pretty much any wooden part of your home without you knowing.

They also fly, so, you know, nightmare fuel.

Want to look over your property to see if you have them? Here's how you find them.

Drywood Termite Poop

It's not as gnarly as it seems, but yeah, it's poop. I think it actually looks like the granules that come off shingles. Oklahoma State describes them as being about 1/32 of an inch long, with six ridges running down the sides.

If you find little piles of brown, sandy-looking sawdust in an attic space, you should call in an expert to be sure.

A rare termite in Oklahoma doesn't necessarily mean your house is about to be eaten from the attic down. You might just add an inspection once in a while if you don't want to do it yourself.