The
drywood termites are so-called because they establish themselves in wood
that is not decaying, nor in contact with ground moisture and which appears
to be perfectly dry. Gunn (1952) notes this species can exist in wood with
as little as 2.8 to 3.0 percent moisture. The termites of the genus, Incisitermes,
formerly Kalotermes, the common drywood termites in Southern
California, are pests in the attics of buildings where they maintain themselves
without any soil connections whatsoever. Krishna (1961) recently split
the genus Kalotermes into a number of genera.
Drywood termites are larger than subterranean termites
and smaller than dampwood termites. The winged form and soldiers are up
to 1/2 inch long. The pellets are regularly formed and when in abundance
are to be found in dry sawdust-like piles. The cavities in the wood are
clean and smooth as though the surface has been gone over with sandpaper.
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