Drywood Termite (Glyptotermes sp.): The Silent Destroyer Hiding in Your Furniture

Among the many wood-destroying insects, the drywood termite Glyptotermes stands out as a hidden, silent threat to our homes and wooden treasures. While small and rarely seen, these termites can cause devastating damage from the inside out, long before anyone notices.

Anatomy & Biology: Masters of Stealth

• Common name: Drywood termite Glyptotermes
• Scientific name:Glyptotermes sp.
• Family: Kalotermitidae
• Order: Blattodea

Adult termites of this species feature a brown head capsule and pronotum, with an orange-brown labrum (upper lip). The head is nearly cube-shaped, equipped with frontal horns projecting forward and scattered stiff hairs.

Their antennae are bead-like (moniliform), their legs are built for walking, and their forewings are thin and membranous.

Life Cycle: From Tiny Eggs to Mighty Colonies

Termites undergo complete metamorphosis, including:

• Egg stage: Females lay an initial batch of 15–30 eggs but can produce up to 1,000 eggs at a time. Eggs are small, white, and round, hatching in 2–4 weeks.
• Larval stage: White larvae resemble miniature adults but without fully developed wings.
• Adult stage: Workers live up to 4 years, while queens can live 20 years or longer, continuously laying eggs.

Diet & Damage: Hidden Wood Eaters

These termites exclusively feed on dry wood, making them major pests in urban areas and valuable wooden items. Unlike subterranean termites, damage is often invisible from the outside. Once wood is cut open, you may find large internal tunnels packed with fecal pellets.

Habitat: Thriving in the Dry

Drywood termites create small nests inside dead branches, long-used furniture, and low-moisture wooden structures. Their ability to retain moisture makes them particularly suited to drier environments.

Distribution: Global Wood Invaders

These termites are widespread throughout tropical and subtropical regions, thriving in a variety of urban and natural settings.

Behavior & Social Structure: A Sophisticated Society

Drywood termites are highly social insects, dividing into specialized castes:

• Workers: Forage, maintain the nest, care for eggs and young, and feed other colony members.
• Soldiers: Defend the nest with oversized heads and powerful mandibles. They rely entirely on workers for feeding because they cannot eat on their own.
• Reproductives: The king and queen. The queen is the main egg layer, with an abdomen that may become greatly enlarged in some species to boost reproductive capacity. The king mates with her throughout their lives.

Conclusion

The drywood termite Glyptotermes may be out of sight, but it is never inactive. From antique furniture to structural beams, these tiny pests can cause immense and costly destruction if left unchecked. Understanding their biology and social structure is the first step in protecting our wooden assets.