Which Termite Species Dwell Within Texas? And Where In The State Are They Found?

Unless you live in Alaska, it is important for every American to know how vulnerable their home is to termite attacks. Of course, the geographical location of your home is not the only factor that determines your chances of falling victim to a termite infestation, as some homes are outfitted with termite resistant features, such as termiticide barriers and pressure treated wood. The state of Texas is well known for being home to several termite species, many of which are extremely destructive. Considering that Texas contains several climatic zones, just about every termite species that dwells within the United States can be found within the state. However, the states of Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii are generally regarded as being the most termite-infested states.

While the highly destructive Formosan termite dwells within several areas in Texas, the state of Florida is home to, not only this species, but also its close relative, the Asian subterranean termite. Luckily, this happens to be the one invasive termite species that cannot survive the relatively temperate climate within Texas, but the termite species that do exist in Texas can travel surprisingly long distances where they cause structural damage in new territories.

The Formosan subterranean termite, is largely limited to the southeastern portion of Texas, but it should be noted that infestations of these termites have been found in every major city in the state. The subterranean species known as Reticulitermes virginicus, is found in eastern Texas and on to Uvalde and Tom Green Counties. The R. Flavipes species (eastern subterranean termite), is found throughout the entire state, and this species is the most destructive of all termite species within the United States. Colonies of the R. hageni species can be found in eastern Texas to Bexar and Eastland Counties. There also exists several drywood termite species that dwell along the Texas Coast. These termites are found as far west as San Antonio and Uvalde Counties and as far north as Collin County. Unfortunately, recent droughts, floods and hurricanes have been proven to drastically alter these habitats. For example, agricultural termites, which are typically limited to the far west of Texas, were found seeking water in central Texas several years ago after the west suffered a long-running drought.

Are you concerned about the threat posed by drywood termites in the region where you live?