One of the most common questions I get from homeowners is some version of “what kind of termites do I have?” — usually after they’ve found something alarming and gone down a Google rabbit hole. The internet treats drywood and subterranean termites as equally likely, so let me clear this up for Oklahoma homeowners once and for all.

My name is Jake Murray. I own Murray Pest Control and hold a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University. Here’s what you actually need to know.

Oklahoma Only Has Subterranean Termites

If you have termites in Stillwater, Edmond, or anywhere in central Oklahoma, they are subterranean termites — almost certainly the Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes). Drywood termites require the humidity and temperatures of coastal and southern states (think Florida, Gulf Coast, parts of Texas and California). They are not established in Oklahoma.

This matters because drywood and subterranean termites require completely different treatment approaches. Knowing which you’re dealing with is the first step to solving the problem.

Subterranean Termites: How They Work

Subterranean termites live in the soil. Their colonies can number in the hundreds of thousands to millions of workers. They require moisture to survive, which is why they maintain contact with the ground — they tunnel up through mud tubes to reach wood above the soil line.

Why Oklahoma is high-risk: Our clay-heavy soils retain moisture year-round, creating ideal termite habitat directly beneath foundations. Oklahoma’s termite pressure is among the highest in the country — the probability of termite attack within 20 years of construction exceeds 70% statewide according to Oklahoma State University Extension.

What makes them destructive: A mature Eastern subterranean termite colony doesn’t punch in and out on a schedule. Workers forage continuously, 24 hours a day. They follow moisture gradients and wood grain through your home’s framing, often going completely undetected for years. By the time visible damage appears, significant structural compromise may already exist.

How to Spot Subterranean Termites

Mud tubes are the most reliable indicator. These are pencil-width tunnels of soil and chewed wood that run along your foundation wall, floor joists, or any surface connecting soil to wood. If you see them, you have an active or recently active colony.

Swarmers — winged reproductives — emerge in spring, typically between February and May in Oklahoma. Finding a swarm of winged insects near a window or door, or a pile of discarded wings, is a strong sign of an established colony nearby.

Hollow wood that sounds papery when tapped, or paint that bubbles and ripples in a pattern resembling water damage, can indicate termite activity behind the surface.

What you won’t see: The workers themselves. Subterranean termites avoid light and open air. The colony lives in your soil and inside your wood — the only time most homeowners ever see them is during a swarm or a professional inspection.

Why Annual Inspections Matter

A subterranean termite colony can be active in your home for 3-5 years before you notice visible damage. Annual professional inspections — particularly important for older homes and new construction in Edmond where soil disturbance during building is high — are the only reliable way to catch activity early.

Murray Pest Control provides termite inspections for both residential homeowners and real estate transactions in Stillwater and Edmond. Learn more about our termite control services.

The Best Treatment for Oklahoma Termites

For subterranean termites in Oklahoma, the gold standard is the Sentricon® System with Always Active™ technology. Unlike liquid barrier treatments that create a chemical perimeter in the soil, Sentricon eliminates the entire colony — including the queen — from the inside out.

Workers consume the Recruit® bait and share it throughout the colony. The active ingredient disrupts the molting process specific to termites, eventually eliminating the colony entirely. Stations remain active continuously, providing ongoing protection without re-treatment appointments or drilling through your foundation.

Murray Pest Control is a Certified Sentricon Specialist® — one of the only pest control companies in central Oklahoma with this certification. Learn more about the Sentricon System.

Jake Murray is the owner of Murray Pest Control and holds a B.S. in Entomology from Oklahoma State University. Murray Pest Control is a Certified Sentricon Specialist® serving Stillwater, Edmond, and Payne County, Oklahoma.