Termites in Arizona: Types, Mud Tubes and What to Do
Short answer: Arizona has at least 17 termite species, but only three types damage homes. A mud tube on your stem wall is the clearest sign you have them.
The Termites That Damage Arizona Homes
The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension counts at least 17 termite species in Arizona, with three groups that matter to homeowners:
- Subterranean termites. The desert subterranean termite (Heterotermes aureus) and the arid-land subterranean termite (Reticulitermes tibialis) are the most destructive. They nest in the soil and reach your wood through mud tubes. This is the termite behind most Phoenix-area termite work.
- Drywood termites. The western drywood termite (Incisitermes minor) lives inside dry wood with no soil contact. It builds no mud tubes; the sign is small piles of hard, dry pellets, often under door and window frames.
- Desert termites. Gnathamitermes perplexus coats palm trunks, fence posts and dead plants with thin layers of dirt. The Extension says it is generally not a structural pest and should be treated only if it is found inside the house.
Dampwood termites are not widespread in Arizona (University of Arizona Extension).
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Termite Mud Tubes on Your Foundation: What They Mean
Subterranean termites dry out in open air, so they build tunnels of soil, saliva and droppings to travel from the ground to wood. The University of Arizona calls a mud tube on the outside stem wall a good indicator of an infestation. Pencil-width, dirt-colored tubes running up the stucco or stem wall, along the slab edge, up block walls, or inside the garage where the slab meets the drywall are the classic signs.
- Leave the tube in place and photograph it. An intact tube is the best evidence for the inspector, and scraping it off doesn't stop the colony.
- Thin dirt sheeting on a palm or fence post is usually desert termites, which rarely need treatment unless they're on the house.
- Hollow-sounding wood: tap baseboards and door frames every few inches with a screwdriver handle; damaged wood sounds hollow (University of Arizona Extension).
- Discarded wings on windowsills after a monsoon storm mean a swarm came from nearby.
Other Signs of Termites in Phoenix-Area Homes
- Bubbling or rippled paint, or pinholes in drywall and baseboards.
- Small piles of hard, gritty pellets under door and window frames (drywood termites).
- Swarms indoors in July through September after rain, or on sunny summer days.
- Soil disturbed against the stem wall by a patio, garden bed or new slab, which the Arizona Department of Agriculture warns can break the original treated barrier.
What Termite Damage Looks Like in Arizona Homes
The EPA notes termites rarely come out of the soil, their mud tubes or the wood they're eating, so most people find the damage before they ever see a termite. Here is what it looks like in Valley slab-on-grade homes:
- Hollow wood. Damaged baseboards, door frames and trim sound hollow when tapped, and the University of Arizona says a screwdriver may break through into the galleries.
- Damage that starts low. Subterranean termites, the main kind in the Valley, come up from the soil at the stem wall, through cracks in the slab and where pipes and ducts pass through it (University of Arizona). Look at the bottom of door frames, baseboards and the garage wall first.
- Dirt where it shouldn't be. Soil packed into wood, mud lines on drywall or a crusty brown patch at the base of a wall usually means a mud tube runs behind it.
- Pellet piles, not dirt. Drywood termites live inside dry wood above ground and leave piles of hard, dry pellets, often around door and window sills (University of Arizona).
If you find damage, don't spray it or tear it out. Photograph it and book an inspection. The EPA says firms offering termite services must be licensed by the state, so ask to see the license. Termite inspections and treatment are handled by a licensed local termite specialist we partner with.
Termite Inspection in Phoenix: What Happens and What It Costs
Termite inspection and treatment through this site is done by a licensed local termite specialist we partner with, not by our general pest technicians. The inspector checks the stem wall, slab edges, garage, attic and wood trim for tubes, damage and pellets, identifies which termite you have, and recommends the fix: a liquid soil termiticide or bait stations for subterranean termites, or a localized wood treatment for drywood termites. Termite work is quoted separately for each home because it depends on the termite and the house. For home sales, the inspector can explain the Arizona Wood-Destroying Insect Inspection Report (WDIIR). See termite inspection and treatment for how a referral works.
If your home was built recently and treated before construction, the Arizona Department of Agriculture says to contact your builder first if you are within 3 years of that treatment; its Pest Management Division ((602) 542-4373) can tell you who treated the home and when.
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Termites in Arizona: Homeowner Questions
What does termite damage look like?
Damaged wood sounds hollow when you tap it, and the University of Arizona says a screwdriver may break through into the galleries inside. In Phoenix-area homes subterranean termite damage usually starts low, near the slab, at baseboards, door frames and where pipes come through the floor, often with mud tubes nearby. Drywood termites leave piles of hard, gritty pellets under door and window frames instead.
Do most houses in Arizona have termites?
Termites are common across the Valley. The Arizona Department of Agriculture notes the state's desert areas have large numbers of subterranean termite colonies, which is why new homes get a pre-construction soil treatment. The University of Arizona recommends a professional inspection every year, even if you haven't seen termites.
What does an Arizona termite look like?
Worker termites are small, soft and pale cream with straight antennae and no pinched waist. Swarmers (the winged ones you see after monsoon rains) are dark, with two pairs of equal-length wings that break off easily. Flying ants have a pinched waist, elbowed antennae and wings of unequal length.
Should you destroy termite mud tubes?
Don't scrape them off before an inspection. An active tube is the best evidence an inspector has, and breaking one doesn't stop the colony; termites simply rebuild. Take a photo, leave it, and book an inspection.
When do termites swarm in Arizona?
It depends on the species. The University of Arizona lists desert subterranean termites swarming July through September, generally after monsoon rain; the arid-land subterranean termite January through March below 4,000 feet; and the western drywood termite June through August on bright, sunny days.
How do I get rid of termites in Arizona?
Have the termites identified first, because subterranean and drywood termites are treated differently. The University of Arizona Extension does not recommend do-it-yourself termite treatment and suggests getting estimates from more than one licensed professional. Common treatments are liquid soil termiticides and bait stations for subterranean termites, and localized wood treatments for drywood termites.