Drywood termites have colonies that does not need contact with soil moisture nor any other water source. These termites occur in dry wood that may be above ground level. They build colonies in structural wood fence, utility posts, furniture, moldings, door and window frames, and more.

Bed bugs are a small oval, brownish insect that lives on the blood of animals or humans. The adult bed bug has a flat body about the size of an apple seed. After they feed, however their body swells and turns a reddish color. Bed bugs do not fly, but can move quickly over floors, walls, and ceilings. Although they are a nuisance, they do not transmit diseases.

The Old House Borer key identifying characteristic is, a long thin antennae that are often as long (or longer) than the body of the beetle. The adult old house borer can be from 5/8 inch to 1 inch in length, with the males typically being smaller than the female. The beetle’s body has a slightly flattened appearance. Its color may appear dark gray, but is usually brownish black to black. They attack softwoods only, coniferous woods such as pine, fir, spruce and hemlock. It usually attacks stored lumber, after which the wood destroying beetle is introduced into homes as they are built.

Subterranean termites live in underground colonies and feed on buried wood. When the initial wood supply is depleted the colony may be extended through “shelter tubes” to above ground wood, this is when damage to structures is done. Shelter tubes are made from soil particles and thus are the color and texture of the local soil. Tubes are built on foundation walls, posts, pilings, in other words anything that spans between soil and wood.

Powder post beetles are like termites as destroyers of seasoned wood, such as that used in buildings and furniture. Powder post beetles are small (about 1/12 to 1/5 inch long) and usually are a reddish-brown to nearly black. They emerge from infested wood from late winter through early summer. It is their lavae’s feeding that reduces the wood to what is called frass. Frass is a fine powder or mass of small pellets.