Drywood Termite

Drywood termites (Incisitermes minor), members of the order Blattodea, infraorder Isoptera, are a 'lower' termite species, meaning they retain flagellated protozoa in their hindgut for cellulose digestion. Alates (winged reproductives) measure 10-12 mm, including wings, with a dark brown to black body and translucent, smoky wings; soldiers are 8-10 mm with large, toothed mandibles and a reddish-brown, cylindrical head. Colony development is slow, taking 5-7 years to reach a mature size of 2,000-3,000 individuals, but they can live for over 15 years. Optimal environmental conditions for Incisitermes minor are typically 25-35°C (77-95°F) with low relative humidity, as they are entirely wood-dwelling and intolerant of high moisture. Eggs hatch in 30-90 days, and nymphs undergo 6-10 instars over several months to a year before maturing into workers, soldiers, or reproductives.

Incisitermes minor exhibits a pseudo-social structure, lacking a true worker caste; all tasks are performed by nymphs, which remain totipotent. Communication primarily occurs through chemical cues, including trail and aggregation pheromones, though they do not forage in soil or construct mud tubes. During dispersal flights, typically occurring on warm, sunny days following a temperature increase, alates are poor fliers and tend to be carried by wind, resulting in localized infestations. Their feeding ecology exclusively involves consuming cellulose from dry timber, creating irregular galleries across the wood grain, which can compromise structural integrity over extended periods. When disturbed, soldiers will use their powerful mandibles defensively, though they pose no direct threat to humans; the primary structural impact stems from the insidious damage to wooden components within structures.