termites on 2nd floor

[JD]

We just found some termites on the second floor of the house. I pulled the
molding away and found dirt/debris, but no live bugs. I went into the
crawlspace and looked all along the walls and could not see any tubes or
evidence of eaten timbers. The next day we found a very few bugs on the first
floor. This is a 7 year old home. Would termites start somehow on the 2nd
floor or do they always come from the ground?

[Larry]

If you are located near the coast, it is possible for it to be dry wood
termites which live above ground in the structure. I have seen cases where
subterranean termites have come from the ground unnoticed and pop through a second
floor wall. And there is always a chance of the subs getting established above
ground if there is a moisture problem such as a faulty condensation drain for a
central air conditioning unit, but usually when that happens the moisture is
causing damage that will be detected and you find them as you are doing repairs.
If it is a loose debris you are finding, it might be carpenter ants, see if the
debris is just made of "stuff" ...dirt, insulation, dead insect parts. Where as
subterranean termites leave mud that will be stuck to the wood. And dry wood
termites will have loose debris that looks like tiny discs with the center
indented.
Lar

[Thomas G. Baker]

Termites do not always come from the ground.
Save a few bodies and have the state extension office tell you about them.
You can have your termite company tell you, but it would be nice to have
a second opinion.
TB

[Larry]

Sam wrote:

> Larry <lar...@home.com> typed:

> > If you are located near the coast, it is possible for it to be dry wood
> >termites which live above ground in the structure.
>

> Drywood termites are being found farther and farther from coastal areas.
> Sam
>
> They can for sure. I have come across 3 cases in the Dallas area in 13 years,
> and I do hear one or two times a year of other companies finding them. With my
> cases they all where brought in from furniture that came from the coast, and
> one case had set up shop in the house structure. Anyone who has had away from
> coastal areas drywoods identified should get second opinions (any type of
> service work for that matter). Also when the formosan (a nasty subteranean)
> was found in the coastal bend of Texas, some companies added that in their
> sales pitch up here to scare up buisiness.

Lar