Drywood termites live, feed, and nest in undecayed wood which is very low in moisture content. Unlike subterranean termites they do not require any contact with the soil in order to live. They can seriously damage moveable wooden objects such as furniture. In the United States drywood termites are found in narrow strip from Virginia south to Florida, along the Gulf of Mexico and Mexico to northern California on the Pacific coast.
Damage done by drywood termites is entirely different from that caused by subterranean termites. These termites cut across the grain of the wood, excavating large chambers, which are connected by small tunnels. These chambers are kept clean. It looks like they have been sandpapered. They enter the wood from a crack or crevice then bore into the wood. This can be a crack in the wood itself or may be the joint between 2 pieces of wood or space underneath roofing paper.
With their ability to live in wood without soil contact, drywood termites are frequently carried in infested furniture and other wooden objects into other areas.