The quick comparison
| Subterranean termites | Drywood termites | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the colony lives | In the soil, travelling into buildings to feed | Inside the wood itself, with no need for soil contact |
| Main sign | Mud tubes on walls, pipes and carpentry | Small piles of dry, pellet-like droppings (frass) |
| Damage | Wood eaten along the grain, often packed with soil | Clean, smooth galleries inside the timber |
| How they get in | Cracks, gaps around pipes, service ducts, joints in the slab | Flying in, or in infested furniture and timber |
| Usual treatment | Baiting, soil treatment or a combination | Local treatment such as foam; fumigation in severe cases |
Subterranean termites
These are the termites most Singapore homeowners deal with. PestClinic names Coptotermes gestroi as the most common subterranean species here (PestClinic, Termite Treatment). The colony lives in the soil and needs moisture, so workers build mud tubes to travel to food while staying out of the open air. In flats, they can reach upper floors through cracks, pipes and service ducts.
Signs: mud tubes, soil packed into damaged wood, soft or hollow-sounding carpentry, and swarms of winged termites (alates) near lights in the evening.
Drywood termites
Drywood termites live entirely inside the timber they eat, so there are no mud tubes. Instead, they push their droppings out through tiny holes, leaving small piles of hard, dry pellets under furniture, door frames or timber ceilings. Colonies are usually smaller and more localised, and they can arrive in infested wooden furniture.
What about dampwood termites?
Dampwood termites need very moist, often decaying wood, such as rotting timber in gardens or wood affected by long-term leaks. They're less common inside homes. Fixing the moisture problem is usually part of the solution.
Why the difference matters for treatment
- Baiting doesn't work on drywood termites, because they don't forage through soil to find bait (PestClinic, Termite Treatment). They're usually treated by foaming or injecting into the infested timber, with fumigation for severe cases.
- Subterranean termites are treated at colony level, with baiting, soil treatment (a chemical barrier) or both. See baiting vs soil treatment.
- Getting the species wrong can mean paying for a treatment that can't work.
What it costs (indicative)
- Drywood termite foaming: from S$300 (Rentokil Singapore, Termite Treatment Price in Singapore).
- Baiting with monitoring, for subterranean termites: from S$700 per year (Rentokil Singapore, Termite Treatment Price in Singapore).
- Soil treatment for an existing building: from S$1,600 (Rentokil Singapore, Termite Treatment Price in Singapore).
Prices checked on 26 October 2026. These are published starting prices, not quotes. See the termite price guide.
What to show the operator
- Photos of mud tubes, droppings or damaged wood, before you clean anything up
- A few winged termites or wings in a sealed bag, if you've had a swarm
- Where and when you first saw activity, and whether the furniture is new or second-hand
Questions
Which termites are most common in Singapore homes?
Subterranean termites. PestClinic names Coptotermes gestroi as the most common subterranean species in Singapore. Drywood termites are less common but do turn up, especially in furniture and timber fittings.
Are the small pellets under my furniture termite droppings?
Small, hard, dry pellets in little piles are typical of drywood termites. Take photos and leave them in place so an operator can confirm what they are.
Can baiting get rid of drywood termites?
No. Drywood termites don't forage through soil, so they won't find bait stations. They're usually treated locally, for example by foaming the infested timber, or with fumigation in severe cases.
Related
More guides
- Signs of termites in an HDB flat, and where to look
- Bed bugs after travel: how to avoid bringing them home
- How much does termite treatment cost in Singapore?
- Termite baiting vs soil treatment (chemical barrier)
- Bed bug treatment: cost and preparation checklist
- How to choose an NEA-licensed pest control operator
- How to tell if you have bed bugs
- Termite treatment for HDB flats
- Bed bug treatment: heat vs chemical, and how to prepare
- Pre-renovation termite treatment: is it worth it?
- Termites in a condo: working with your MCST
Not sure which termites you have? Tell us what you're dealing with and we'll pass your request to up to 3 NEA-licensed operators who cover your area. It's free, with no obligation.