About ten species of termites can be found in the semi-arid and arid regions of the Ameri­can Southwest. The desert termite, Gnatham­itermes tubiformans, is one of the most common spe­cies in western Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. People often mistake desert termites for subterranean termites in the genus Reticulitermes. Although both live in the soil, only the Reticulitermes subterranean termite is considered a structural pest. Desert termites do not damage man-made struc­tures ...