Is That Termites? Signs, Swarm Seasons and Treatment for Safford, Thatcher and Pima Homes

Quick answer: If you live in Safford, Thatcher or Pima, the termites most likely in your home are desert subterranean termites. Look for pencil width mud tubes on the stem wall, piles of shed wings, hollow sounding wood, or small pellets that keep reappearing under trim. Any of those signs is worth a professional inspection before the next swarm season.

This fall our Office Pros have been fielding a lot of the same call from Gila Valley homeowners: "I found something under the baseboard. Is that termites?" Here's how to tell, what's normal for our valley, and what to do next.

What kind of termites do Safford, Thatcher and Pima homes get?

The Gila Valley floor sits well under 4,000 feet (Safford is roughly 2,900), which puts it in the hot desert zone where the University of Arizona says the desert subterranean termite is the most common subterranean termite. UA also calls it the most destructive termite in Arizona, because it tolerates heat and very dry conditions and can damage dry, sound structural wood, not just damp or rotting wood (UA Extension AZ1369).

Two other groups show up here too:

• •Arid land subterranean termites, which live in the soil like the desert subterranean termite but are more likely to go after moist or decaying wood (AZ1369).
• •Drywood termites. UA lists the dark western and light western drywood termites as Arizona's two important drywood pests, and the light western drywood termite is a true low desert species. Drywood colonies live entirely inside dry wood with no soil contact (AZ1369).

Wood that stays wet near leaky irrigation can also draw the desert dampwood termite, which UA notes commonly attacks untreated poles and fence posts (AZ1369).

How do I know if it's termites?

University of Arizona Extension tells homeowners to look for these signs at least once or twice a year (AZ1369):

• •Mud tubes on walls and foundations, especially in garages and storage areas. Desert subterranean termites build small, strong, light colored tubes; arid land termites build flatter, dirtier brown ones.
• •Piles of wings near windows, doors and lights.
• •Pellets or "sawdust" that keeps coming back. Small, hard pellets piling up under a pinhole in trim, a window frame or fascia are the classic first sign of drywood termites.
• •New holes in wood that weren't there the last time you looked.
• •Swarming insects inside the house.

To check yourself, UA suggests taking a good flashlight to the foundation wall at the soil line, cracks in the slab and the spots where pipes and ducts come up through the concrete. Tap wood every few inches with a screwdriver; damaged wood sounds hollow (UA Extension AZ1356). If you break open a mud tube, don't keep digging. Leave it so a Service Pro can see the activity.

Are those flying ants or termites?

Termites have four wings of equal size that fold over the back and a straight, thick waist. Ants have two pairs of wings of different sizes and a pinched waist (AZ1356). If you can, drop a few in a sealed baggie. Identifying the insect is the first step to choosing the right treatment.

When do termites swarm in the Gila Valley?

Swarm timing in Arizona depends on the species and the elevation. For homes on the Gila Valley floor, below 4,000 feet, University of Arizona Extension describes three windows (AZ1369, AZ1356):

| Termite | When it swarms below 4,000 ft | What to notice | |---|---|---| | Arid land subterranean termite | January to March, on sunny days | Small daytime flights, easy to miss | | Desert subterranean termite | July to September, at dusk after monsoon rain | Pale swarmers, rarely seen indoors | | Light western drywood termite | June into September, at dusk | Flights not tied to rain |

That's why fall is a smart time to look. The next swarm window for arid land termites starts in January, and a swarm only tells you a colony was already established. Our termite swarm guide covers what an indoor swarm means.

Why do Gila Valley homes attract termites?

Much of Safford and Thatcher borders irrigated fields, canals and the Gila River bottomland, and many yards are flood irrigated. Subterranean termites need moisture from the soil, so anything that keeps the ground wet against your foundation helps them. The Arizona Department of Agriculture lists the common risk factors: leaking pipes and faucets, sprinklers and bubblers soaking the soil by the foundation, planters built against outer walls, firewood or scrap lumber stacked against the house, and wood fencing or trellises touching soil and leaning on the house (AZDA).

Older brick and wood frame homes near Eastern Arizona College in Thatcher, with porches, sill plates and fence posts close to damp soil, are a common place our Service Pros check first.

A few things you can do this weekend:

• •Pull mulch, firewood and lumber away from the stem wall so you can see it.
• •Fix dripping hose bibs and adjust sprinklers that spray the foundation.
• •Make sure downspouts and grading move water away from the house.
• •Keep wood off bare soil. Fence posts, planter boxes and patio posts are frequent first finds.

How are termites treated in Safford and Thatcher?

The right treatment depends on which termite you have, so a Service Pro identifies the species first. UA notes that the control method depends on the species and where it is in or outside the structure (AZ1369).

For subterranean termites, Hydra typically uses:

• •A liquid barrier. We trench and treat the foundation perimeter with a non repellent liquid termiticide and drill and treat slab penetrations and addition seams where termites travel. See termite treatment.
• •Bait stations where soil treatment isn't practical. See the termite bait system.

For drywood termites, treatment is localized to the infested wood. See drywood termite treatment.

Our termite warranties come with written terms, can be renewed, and transfer to a new owner if you sell. They cover retreatment if live subterranean termites come back during the warranty period. They don't cover the cost of repairing termite damage.

Has my house been treated for termites before?

Licensed companies in Arizona report termite treatments to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, and the public can search an address for treatments filed in the last three years (AZDA). Use the state's termite action report search, or read our guide on checking your home's termite treatment history.

Buying or selling? A Wood Destroying Insect Inspection Report is a different job. See our guide to WDIRs for Gila Valley real estate.

When should I call?

Call if you find mud tubes, a pile of wings indoors, pellets that come back after you sweep them up, or wood that sounds hollow. UA recommends an annual professional inspection even if you don't see anything (AZ1356).

Hydra's Gila Valley branch is at 2158 N Reay Ln in Thatcher, and our Service Pros live and work in the valley. Call or text an Office Pro at (928) 432-6200 for a free custom quote. Financing through Wisetack is available for termite treatment.

FAQ

Do termites leave sawdust?

Not usually. Subterranean termites build their tubes from soil and fecal matter, so you'll see mud, not sawdust (AZ1356). What looks like sawdust under trim or a window frame is often drywood termite pellets, which are small, hard and keep piling up below tiny holes (AZ1369). Save a sample for your Service Pro.

Are termites active in the Gila Valley in winter?

They can be. Subterranean colonies live in the soil, and below 4,000 feet the arid land subterranean termite swarms between January and March (AZ1356). Winter flights are small and happen on sunny days, so they're easy to miss.

I saw one swarm outside. Do I have termites in my house?

Not necessarily, but it's a warning. A swarm near your foundation means a mature colony is close by. A swarm inside the house almost always means a colony is already in or under the structure, so schedule an inspection.

How often should I have my home inspected for termites?

University of Arizona Extension recommends checking your home yourself once or twice a year and having a pest management professional do an annual inspection, even if you haven't seen termites (AZ1369, AZ1356).

How much does termite treatment cost in Safford?

It depends on the square footage of the structures being treated and the termite activity present, so every home is quoted individually. Call or text an Office Pro at (928) 432-6200 for a free custom quote.

Does Hydra treat termites in Pima, Solomon and Willcox too?

Yes. Our Gila Valley branch in Thatcher serves Graham and Greenlee counties, including Safford, Thatcher, Pima, Solomon, Clifton, Morenci and Duncan, plus Willcox in Cochise County.