Termites in San Antonio and South Central Texas: Fact Sheet
Three kinds of termites matter to homes around San Antonio: native subterranean termites, which live in soil and are the type AgriLife tells every Texas homeowner to watch for; Formosan subterranean termites, which Texas A&M has detected in Bexar County; and drywood termites, which live inside dry wood above ground. All of them eat wood quietly from the inside, so the first clue is usually a swarm of winged termites, a mud tube on the foundation or wood that sounds hollow.
If you have found swarmers, tubes or soft wood, call or text (210) 281-1064 or book an inspection online.
Which termites live around San Antonio? #
Native subterranean termites are the ones nearly every Texas homeowner should expect. AgriLife's subterranean termite guide (E-368) describes workers that are blind, wingless and creamy white, and dark brown to black swarmers about 3/8 inch long. A mature colony usually holds around 250,000 workers. More detail is on our subterranean termite page.
Formosan subterranean termites are an introduced species. Swarmers are yellowish brown, roughly 0.5 to 0.6 inch, with fine gold to reddish hairs on the wings. Soldiers have teardrop-shaped heads and release a sticky white fluid when disturbed. See Formosan termites in San Antonio for where they have turned up.
Drywood termites need no soil contact at all. AgriLife counts three common Texas species. One has light yellow swarmers about 7/16 inch long that fly at night; another is dark-bodied, about 9/16 inch, and flies by day. They occur across Texas but are most concentrated along the Gulf Coast.
A side-by-side comparison is on types of termites in San Antonio.
Termite or flying ant? #
Winged ants and winged termites often show up in the same months, so look closely before you worry:
- Termite: straight antennae, a thick waist with no pinch, and two pairs of wings that are the same length.
- Ant: bent (elbowed) antennae, a narrow pinched waist, and front wings longer than the back pair.
Texas A&M's Insects in the City notes that termite swarmers found indoors are a dependable sign that termites are active in the structure. Our termite swarmers page covers what to do during a swarm.
Where termites nest and how they reach a house #
Native subterranean termites usually stay in the top 4 to 6 inches of soil. They reach wood in two ways: wood that touches the ground, and mud tubes they build up over a slab edge, pier or foundation crack. They dry out easily, so they favor damp soil and any wood kept wet by leaks.
Formosan termites travel to new areas mostly inside recycled railroad ties and shoring timbers used in yards. Where moisture is available, they can build carton nests inside walls and never return to the ground.
Drywood termites move into shingles, eaves, siding and furniture and live entirely inside that wood.
When do termites swarm in South Central Texas? #
| Termite | Swarm timing (as AgriLife and Texas A&M give it) | Time of day |
|---|---|---|
| Native subterranean | Starts in January and February in South Texas; Texas swarms peak February through May | Daytime, often afternoon |
| Formosan | Early May through June (E-367); late May and early June (urban entomology center) | Night, around lights |
| Drywood | Late August and early September | Night or day, by species |
A swarm is a mating flight. After it, pairs drop their wings and try to start new colonies, which is why loose wings on a windowsill are worth noticing.
What does termite damage look like? #
AgriLife estimates subterranean termites cause about $500 million in damage in Texas every year. Watch for:
- Swarmers, or piles of shed wings, on windowsills and near lights
- Mud tubes on the foundation, piers or the slab edge
- Wood that sounds dull when you tap it, with soil packed in the galleries
- With drywood termites, tiny "kick holes" and small piles of six-sided pellets about 1/32 inch long, the same color as the wood
Formosan colonies run at least four times the size of native ones and can pass a million termites within five years. AgriLife adds that they attack more than 50 kinds of trees, can chew through plastic and rubber, and have damaged wiring badly enough to cause house fires.
AgriLife describes the Formosan soldier's white fluid as no danger to people; the real risk is to the building. More on reading damage is on our termite damage page.
What should homeowners do, and what should they avoid? #
Do:
- Grade soil so it slopes away from the house, and keep it 6 to 8 inches below the top of the foundation.
- Remove wood-to-soil contact: fence posts tied into the house, trellises, stumps and old form stakes.
- Repair plumbing, roof, gutter and AC drip leaks, and keep dense shrubs off the foundation.
- Skip untreated recycled railroad ties and shoring timbers in the yard. AgriLife warns that creosote does not keep Formosan termites out.
- For drywood termites, screen vents with 20-mesh wire, caulk joints and check used furniture for pellets.
Don't:
- Panic. AgriLife's guide on choosing a termite company says a house will not fall down overnight, and it suggests getting three or more inspections.
- Repair the damage or apply a product before the inspector sees it. TDA advises waiting.
- Rely on store-bought products for the house. Insects in the City says do-it-yourself termite products are fine for sheds and fence posts, while a home is nearly always a job for a professional.
Our termite prevention page turns these into a yard-by-yard checklist.
When should you call for a termite inspection? #
Call when you see swarmers indoors, mud tubes, damaged wood, or when you are buying or selling a home. AgriLife's risk numbers are sobering: about 70% of unprotected homes within 25 years by one guide, and over 70% within 10 to 20 years of construction by another.
AgriLife describes the main treatment approaches a technician may explain:
- Liquid soil termiticide around and under the foundation, often drilled through the slab, with foam used for voids
- Wood-applied treatments, which work better alongside other methods
- Bait systems, which suppress a colony slowly (months to over a year) and leave no lasting protection once removed
Registered termiticides lasted four to ten years in Texas A&M tests. For widespread drywood infestations, AgriLife names tent fumigation as the most effective option. That work is done by companies holding a separate structural fumigation license.
Texas rules every homeowner should know #
- Licensing: TDA's termite category covers control of termites and other wood destroying organisms by means other than fumigation.
- Paperwork before treatment: only a termite-category technician or certified applicator may prepare written estimates and disclosure documents. They must include a diagram, the conducive conditions found, the pesticide label and the terms of any coverage offered, and the company keeps copies for two years.
- Real estate: TDA requires real estate termite reports on form SPCS/T5. TDA also states that a WDI inspection is not a promise that no wood destroying insects exist and is not a report on structural damage (TDA Termite FAQs).
- Stickers: AgriLife says inspectors leave a sticker with the company, date and outcome under the kitchen sink or near the breaker box or water heater.
How Pest Trappers handles termites #
Termite work is done by Pest Trappers LLC (TPCL #0887549), a family-owned company licensed by TDA for general pest and termite control. Owner Travis Lambert is a Texas certified applicator. The technician inspects the foundation, slab edge, plumbing areas, attic and wood trim, identifies which termite is present, and explains the treatment options that fit the house. Every product is applied as its label directs, and you receive the disclosure documents Texas requires before any work begins. Pricing is quoted after the inspection.
We inspect homes and businesses throughout San Antonio and nearby towns including Stone Oak, Helotes, Bulverde and New Braunfels. Treatment choices are explained in more depth on termite control in San Antonio, and early warning signs are on signs of termites.