Incisitermes

Incisitermes is a genus of termites in the family Kalotermitidae, commonly known as drywood termites. Members of this genus inhabit dry wood, often inside structural timbers, furniture, and other wooden objects, and live their colonies entirely within the wood with little or no contact with soil or external moisture. Colonies typically contain workers, soldiers, and winged reproductives, with a king and queen that mate to found new colonies.

Taxonomically, Incisitermes belongs to the order Blattodea, a modern classification that places termites with cockroaches; within Blattodea it is placed in Kalotermitidae, a family characterized by wood-dwelling termites that infest dry wood rather than soil-rich environments. The genus includes multiple described species, distributed primarily in the Americas, especially North and Central America, with occasional introductions to other regions through human activity.

Identification of Incisitermes relies on the morphology of soldiers and alates, as well as distinctive patterns of fecal pellets produced as they excavate galleries. Soldiers typically have well-developed mandibles and heads adapted for defense, while workers are pale and soft-bodied.

Ecology and behavior: Incisitermes species infest sound, seasoned wood and establish shallow, internal galleries. They swarm during warm, dry periods, producing alates that disperse to establish new colonies. Because they do not require soil moisture, infestations can occur in relatively dry indoor environments and are often harder to detect than subterranean termite infestations.

Impact and management: Drywood termite infestations can cause structural and cosmetic damage to wood products. Detection methods include noticing frass pellets, hollowed wood, and sometimes unusual odors. Management usually involves professional fumigation or localized heat treatment, combined with removal of infested wood and moisture control.