Subterranean termites are the most common type of termites in the USA. You can spot subterranean termite colonies because the winged swarmers (a.k.a. alates) will usually be dark brown or black and have two wings that are equal in length.
The worker termites don’t have wings, are cream colored, and are about a quarter of a inch long. Subterranean soldier termites have large mandibles, a creamy-white body with a brown head and are wingless.
Subterranean termites establish colonies in the soil below ground or in secluded moist environments above ground as protection from the open air. The termites will build mud tunnels (a.k.a. galleries or tunnels) to reach food from above the ground.
Some of these colonies have more than one egg-laying female. That means that the nest can grow alarmingly quickly.