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If you’ve searched “what do termites eat”, you want the facts fast. Every year, termites cause over $5 billion in damage in the US. In our DC area, we’ve seen homes lose thousands to hidden tunnels.
We’ve been in pest control since the ’60s, knocking on doors across Northern Virginia. Today, our registered technicians still tackle subterranean colonies beneath homes. Knowing their food choices helps you guard your property.
Many homeowners type “what do termites eat” when they spot a mud tube or swarmers. Termites feed on cellulose, the main part of wood. Because they stay out of sight, damage often shows only after serious chewing.
In Virginia and Maryland, eastern subterranean termites (Reticulitermes flavipes) are the top threat. A single colony can forage up to 150 ft through soil tunnels, striking foundations unseen.
All termites need cellulose for energy. They eat wood, paper, cardboard, and cotton fabrics. Their guts host microbes that turn tough fibers into simple sugars.
Termites even chew through plastic, rubber, or thin metal—not to eat it, but to reach new wood sources hidden behind barriers.
Not all termites feed the same way. The main groups in our region are subterranean, drywood, and dampwood. Each has unique diet needs and moisture habits.
Subterranean termites eat structural lumber (sills, joists, studs), sub-flooring, landscape mulch, buried stumps, and tree roots. They need high moisture and build mud tubes to shield themselves from dry air.
Drywood termites feed on seasoned, dry wood in attics, rafters, trim, and furniture. They get water from the wood and leave six-sided fecal pellets at “kick-out” holes. Learn more in the UC IPM Pest Note.
Dampwood termites need very wet wood. You’ll find them in water-logged logs, decaying pilings, and leak-hit sills. They rarely invade dry structures.
In the DC metro area, Reticulitermes flavipes and R. virginicus dominate. These subterranean termites target sills, joists, studs, and sub-flooring. They also attack mulch and firewood stored against your siding.
To reduce risk, trim mulch beds and store wood at least 20 ft from your home on a rack. For region-specific plans, see our Northern Virginia Termite Control, Reston Termite Control, or Alexandria Termite Control pages.
Moisture draws subterranean and dampwood termites. Leaky gutters, AC condensate, and poor drainage let them thrive. Heated basements extend their feeding season in cool months.
Termites avoid dry air, so they build mud tubes to maintain humidity near 100%. Fix grading issues and clear soil away from siding to cut moisture access.
Termites hollow wood from the inside, leaving a paper-thin surface. Tap your trim and you’ll hear a hollow sound. Repair costs jump once damage shows above the paint layer.
In one Reston crawl space, termites ate beams completely before any surface signs appeared. That case cost over $10,000 to repair sub-floor damage.
Remove what termites eat to protect your house:
For more tips, see our Termite Prevention & Control guide.
Treatment works best when it matches termite feeding habits. Our registered technicians choose from non-repellent barriers, bait stations, or physical guards to suit your home.
Liquid termiticides like fipronil create an invisible barrier around foundations. Termites pick up the product and share it with the colony. Active ingredients include imidacloprid and chlorantraniliprole.
CSI stations use Recruit HD bait infused with noviflumuron, a chitin-synthesis inhibitor. Workers feed on the bait and spread it colony-wide, halting molting and triggering collapse. See the EPA hexaflumuron fact sheet.
Stainless-steel mesh, sand layers, and plastic sheeting block termite entry. These barriers prevent tunneling when installed correctly in new construction or renovations.
For drywood infestations, we use whole-structure fumigation or targeted foam and dust injections. Learn step-by-step methods in our How to Kill Termites: Expert Methods to Get Rid of Termites guide.
Moisture control is key. We replace soaked lumber and fix leaks. Without persistently wet wood, dampwood termites can’t survive.
Our family-owned team has over 57 years in pest control. We built an internal research group to vet products like Sentricon and borate-based solutions. Every product we pick is EPA approved and one we’d use in our own homes.
Our registered technicians blend door-to-door know-how with modern bait systems to match your home’s needs.
Termites often hide in crawl spaces and wall voids. Without yearly checks, they can eat unseen beams. Annual inspections spot mud tubes, swarmers, and soil workers before major damage.
Learn why annual termite inspections matter on our dedicated page.
Subterranean colonies send worker termites to scout for food. They can tunnel over 150 ft from the nest. Swarmers also fly in spring to start new colonies.
See how they spread in our How Termites Spread Throughout A Neighborhood resource.
Termites feed on cellulose from wood to cardboard, adapting their diet to moisture and temperature. By understanding what do termites eat, you can remove food sources and protect your home.
Ready to keep termites out? Call us at 703-683-2000 or email [email protected] for questions or to get an estimate today.
Termites feed on any cellulose-rich material. This includes paper, cardboard, cotton fabrics, and even the paper backing on drywall. They rely on gut microbes to digest these sources.
Termites eat the paper covering on drywall but not the gypsum itself. They generally avoid fiberglass insulation. Look for chew marks or hollow walls near these areas.
Subterranean colonies can hollow a two-by-four in a few weeks. Before you see damage, you might face thousands in repair costs if left unchecked.
Termites gnaw on plastic, rubber, or thin metal, but only to reach wood. They don’t digest these materials for nutrition.
Watch for mud tubes on foundations, swarmers near windows, hollow-sounding trim, and piles of tiny pellets near wood.
Keep at least a 6-inch gap between soil and wood. Use pressure-treated lumber or install metal flashing. Store firewood off the ground and away from the deck.
Homes with clay soil, high humidity, and poor drainage draw more termite activity. Old crawl spaces and wood-to-earth contact add to the risk.
With five years of hands-on experience in the pest control industry, George Schulz is a registered technician with the Virginia Pest Management Association and a proud third-generation professional in a family business that’s been protecting homes for over 57 years. He manages and trains a team of service pros while also leading internal research efforts—recently spearheading a deep-dive review of thousands of documents on pest control materials to hand-pick the most kid and pet friendly, most effective solutions tailored specifically for homes in the DC metro area. Read his bio.
