Though there are around 2,000 species of termites are found across the world, only few of them are found within Canada. They thrive in most parts of southern Canada, especially along the coasts. Termites are commonly found in large cities like Toronto or Ottawa. The most common type of termite found in Canadian homes is the subterranean termite (in the East, Reticulitermes flavipes, in the West, Reticulitermes hesperus).

Subterranean termites

Since Subterranean termites feed on the wood of a home or building, attacking wooden floors, furnishings, window frames, doors, wall paneling and other stuffs, the most common places to look out for subterranean termites in a home are basements, garages or any other room on the ground floor.

There could be more than 2 million members (depending on the species) in the colonies of Subterranean termites and they spend most part of their lives underground. During the spring, subterranean termites starts swarming when groups of reproductive termites go off to start new colonies.

Subterranean termites will enter through wood that comes in contact with them. They can also travel in by constructing mud tubes from the ground to the wood they infest. Cracks in concrete walls and foundations made of hollow blocks are also easy way for termites to infest a home.

Drywood termites

In most part of Canada, drywood termites look very identical to their subterranean cousins as both are white and brown in shades and can sometimes be translucent in colour. The only thing that separates these two types is their sizes. Drywood termites tend to be a lot larger than subterranean ones. The size of a drywood termite colony is far smaller than a subterranean colony as they live completely within the wood they infest. This makes drywood termites more difficult to detect.

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites do not require any contact with the soil in order to live. Damage done by drywood termites is entirely different from that caused by subterranean termites.

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