Subterranean termites are the most common and destructive termites in the US, found in every state except Alaska. They live in the soil and reach wood through pencil-width mud tubes. Professional treatment uses either a liquid termiticide barrier around the foundation (about $500 to $2,000 for a typical home) or a bait system ($1,000 to $2,500 to install, plus $200 to $400 a year for monitoring). DIY methods can’t reliably reach a colony that may hold hundreds of thousands to millions of termites underground.
Table of Contents
How to Identify Subterranean Termites
| Caste | Look | Size |
|---|---|---|
| Workers | Cream-colored, soft, wingless | About 1/4 inch or smaller |
| Soldiers | Cream body, large brownish rectangular head, big jaws | Slightly larger than workers |
| Swarmers | Dark brown to nearly black, translucent milky wings of equal length | 1/4 to 1/2 inch with wings |
Swarmers usually emerge in spring (late winter in Florida), in daytime after warm rain. More pictures: what termites look like and flying termites.
Common Subterranean Termite Species
| Species | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern subterranean (Reticulitermes flavipes) | Eastern half of the US, most widespread | The most common termite in homes |
| Dark southeastern (R. virginicus) | Southeast | Similar to eastern; often swarms later in spring |
| Western subterranean (R. hesperus) | Pacific coast and western states | Main subterranean termite in California and the Northwest |
| Arid land and desert (R. tibialis, Heterotermes aureus) | Southwest and desert regions | Survive in dry soils |
| Formosan (Coptotermes formosanus) | Southern US and Hawaii | Invasive, huge colonies, builds carton nests; see Formosan termites |
Signs of Subterranean Termites
- Mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, pipes and inside crawl spaces
- Swarmers or piles of shed wings near windows, doors and light fixtures
- Hollow-sounding wood when tapped; a screwdriver sinks in easily
- Damage along the grain, with galleries packed with soil and mud
- Bubbling paint, sagging floors or doors that stick
Full checklist with pictures: signs of termites.
Subterranean Termite Treatment Options
| Treatment | How it works | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Liquid termiticide barrier | Trenching and drilling around the foundation; non-repellent products spread through the colony | $3 to $20 per linear foot; $500 to $2,000 per home |
| Bait stations | Stations in the soil around the house with a slow-acting growth regulator the colony shares | $1,000 to $2,500 installed, plus $200 to $400/yr monitoring |
| Combination | Spot liquid treatment where termites are active, plus baits around the perimeter | Varies |
| Wood treatment | Borates applied to exposed wood in crawl spaces and attics | Add-on; DIY products available |
Costs from Angi and HomeGuide 2026 guides. Full breakdown: termite treatment cost, termite barriers and termite bait stations.
What Doesn’t Work
- Spraying mud tubes or visible termites: kills a few workers; the colony underground is untouched.
- Cardboard traps: attract termites but don’t eliminate a colony.
- Putting infested wood in the sun: useful only for loose pieces, not the house.
- Bug bombs: never reach termites in soil or wood.
How to Prevent Subterranean Termites
- Keep soil, mulch and wood at least 6 inches below siding and away from the foundation.
- Fix leaks and direct gutters and downspouts away from the house.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and use a vapor barrier.
- Store firewood and lumber off the ground and away from walls.
- Remove stumps and buried wood near the house.
- Book an annual inspection in high-risk areas. See how to prevent termites.
Subterranean vs Drywood Termites
| Subterranean | Drywood | |
|---|---|---|
| Nest | In the soil | Inside dry wood |
| Sign | Mud tubes, soil-packed galleries | Six-sided pellets (frass), no mud |
| Colony size | Tens of thousands to millions | Up to a few thousand |
| Treatment | Soil barrier or baits | Spot treatment, heat or tenting |
Subterranean termite monitoring
- Termite bait stations for early detection
- Borate wood treatment for crawl space framing
- Crawl space vapor barrier to cut moisture
An active infestation needs professional treatment. Compare several quotes.
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FAQs
Subterranean termite workers are cream-colored and about 1/4 inch long. Soldiers have larger brownish heads with big jaws, and swarmers are dark brown to black with milky wings of equal length.
Liquid barrier treatment usually costs $500 to $2,000 for a typical home, and bait systems cost $1,000 to $2,500 to install plus $200 to $400 a year for monitoring.
A professionally applied non-repellent liquid termiticide barrier or a professionally monitored bait system. Both reach the colony in the soil.
Mud tubes on foundations and walls, swarmers or discarded wings, hollow-sounding wood and damage along the grain packed with soil.
DIY bait stations and borates help with monitoring and prevention, but a continuous soil barrier needs professional equipment and large volumes of termiticide.
Sources
- National Pest Management Association: Subterranean termites
- Angi: Termite treatment cost (2026)
- HomeGuide: Termite treatment cost (2026)
Facts in this guide are checked against the sources above and reviewed when they change. See how we research in our editorial policy.