The most widespread group of termites.  They cause most of the termite damage to structural timbers in the United States.  Nests are usually in the soil. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage each year.  They primarily feed on wood, but also damage paper, books, and insulation.  

Found throughout the United States in a variety of species.  The tunnels they excavate in wood are clean, almost sandpapered in appearance, unlike termite tunnels.  Shredded fragments of wood are ejected from the gallaries through preexisting cracks or slits made by the ants.  Carpenter ants nest in both moist and dry wood but prefer wood which is moist.  

Carpenter Bees are often found hovering around the holes that they drill into wood.  Carpenter bees are considered wood destroying insects due to the damage that they cause to wood during the construction of the brood galleries.  The sawdust and excrement stains at the entrance to the galleries can devalue exterior wooden surfaces. 

Powder-post beetles are wood-boring insects that reduce wood to a fine, flour-like powder.  Damage is done by the larvae as they create narrow, meandering tunnels in wood as they feed.  Infestations are discovered after noticing small, round "shotholes" in the wood surface.  These are exit holes where adult beetles have chewed out of the wood after completing their development cycle. 

It is important to understand and identify the difference from a common household insect to a wood destroying insect.  During a home inspection the presence of wood destroying insects are always a concern in the home buying process.  Often time, when a wood destroying insects is mention in a report then the buyer may shy away from the transaction.  Keeping your home free of such pests requires a professional company; such as Crawlspace Solutions to help you correctly identify your pest issue and provide the proper treatment. 

WOOD DESTROYING INSECTS: