Subterranean termites probably have existed throughout their present range for millions of years. Most of the termite damage in the United States is caused by native species. They are found throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the world, but they predominate in the tropical and subtropical regions. In their natural habitat, termites are considered beneficial insects because they break down dead or dying plant materials, and thus they are an important part of the nutrient cycle. However, when termites feed on wooden structures, they become pests.

The soil provides several advantages that make it suitable as the dwelling for subterranean termites: it serves as a source of moisture, shields termites from predators, and is used as a building material for construction of shelter tubes above ground. If moisture is available from a source other than soil, subterranean termites may not require connection to the soil. Thus, isolated, aboveground infestations may occur in homes where subterranean termites have access to water from condensation, leaking pipes, roofs or other sources.

Termites are social insects, living in highly organized colonies composed of individuals that have different physical features and/or behavioral roles. The three major types are workers, soldiers and reproductives. The species of termite can be determined by physical characteristics of the soldier and winged reproductives.
Workers are wingless, soft-bodied insects that are gray or yellow-white. They are found in the greatest numbers in a subterranean termite colony and are the ones usually seen when a piece of infested wood in examined. Their duties are to care for eggs and young, feed and clean other termites, forage for food, and construct and repair shelter tubes and other workings.
Soldiers have larger, brownish heads and longer mouthparts (mandibles) than workers. They guard the colony and defend against predators.
Reproductives, or sexual adults, have black or yellow-brown bodies. They have two pair of long, whitish, translucent wings of equal size at the time they disperse from a colony, but they shed their wings soon after flight. With increased age, the body of a functioning female reproductive may become greatly expanded with developing eggs and she will attain a size several times that of workers.

The principal food of subterranean termites is cellulose, obtained form wood and other plant tissues. Termites, therefore, feed on wooden portions of buildings, utility poles, fence posts, or any other wood product.