Drywood Termite
Drywood termites live entirely inside dry wood and never need contact with the soil. In South Florida the main culprit is the invasive West Indian drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis), which infests homes, furniture and boats and is the target of nearly all tent fumigation in Florida; native drywood species, such as the light southeastern drywood termite, mostly live in dead branches outdoors.
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What Are Drywood Termites?
Drywood termites are termites in the family Kalotermitidae that live their entire lives inside wood. Unlike subterranean termites, they do not need soil or a moisture source: the colony gets the water it needs from the wood it eats and from its own metabolism. A single colony can live in one piece of wood that never touches the ground, such as a rafter, a door frame or a dresser.
In South Florida, one drywood termite does most of the damage: the West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis. Despite its name, UF/IFAS researchers now consider it native to the coastal desert of Peru and Chile, and they suggest it was carried around the Americas in infested ships and goods. Its first Florida record dates to 1918, from a building in Key West. Today its largest populations are in older buildings in southern Florida, where UF/IFAS calls it the preeminent drywood pest of wooden articles. It is found only in man-made structures, including houses, boats and furniture, never in natural settings.
Florida also has native drywood termites. The light southeastern drywood termite, Incisitermes snyderi, lives mainly in dead tree branches and occasionally infests outdoor wooden items or wood exposed to water; older UF/IFAS publications called it the most common drywood termite in the state, but the current UF/IFAS species list rates it a minor pest that rarely infests structures. Other native species, such as Cryptotermes cavifrons and Incisitermes milleri (found only in the Keys), need wood that is exposed to rainfall and are not structural pests. The western drywood termite, a major pest in California, is not established in Florida and turns up mainly in imported furniture.
South Florida’s warm climate, its many older homes and its huge boating community all favor the West Indian drywood termite. A 2025 UF/IFAS study found that recreational boats are a major pathway for invasive termites, naming the West Indian drywood termite along with the two invasive subterranean species. For an overview of every termite in the region, see our guide to termites in South Florida.
How to Identify Drywood Termites
- Swarmers (alates): brown, darker than the rest of the colony and nearly 1/2 inch (about 11 mm) long with wings. The West Indian drywood termite has two pairs of hairless, iridescent wings with darker veins along the front edge.
- Soldiers: West Indian drywood soldiers have a short, dark, deeply wrinkled head shaped like a plug or a burnt match head. They use it to block tunnels and keep out intruders, especially ants.
- Pseudergates (workers): pale, eyeless and slow-moving, with shorter legs than subterranean termite workers. You will only see them if infested wood is broken open.
Frass pellets vs. mud tubes
The easiest way to tell drywood termites from subterranean termites is what they leave behind. Drywood termites push their dry fecal pellets, called frass, out of tiny round kick-out holes about 1 to 2 mm wide. The pellets are hexagonal, gritty and cream, red, brown or black, and they pile up like coffee grounds on windowsills, floors and furniture. Drywood termites never build mud tubes. Subterranean termites build mud tubes from the soil and leave soil packed inside the wood they eat, with no pellet piles.
Drywood swarmers vs. flying ants
Termite swarmers have straight, bead-like antennae, a thick waist and four wings of equal length that extend well past the body. Flying ants have elbowed antennae, a pinched waist and hind wings that are shorter than the front wings.
Life Cycle and Behavior
A West Indian drywood colony starts when a pair of swarmers lands on wood, sheds its wings and chews a small chamber into a crack, a hole or a knot. The colony grows slowly. Soldiers appear about two to three years later, the colony starts producing its own swarmers around the fifth year, and colonies can persist for more than ten years. Mature colonies are small compared with subterranean termites, probably a little over 1,000 individuals, but a building can contain many separate colonies.
The termites prefer the softer sapwood and tunnel through it, leaving a thin outer layer of wood over their galleries. They infest both hardwoods and softwoods that are sheltered from rain, including structural lumber, trim, cabinets and furniture. UF/IFAS also lists attics, where wood temperatures can climb above 110°F, among the places to check.
West Indian drywood termites swarm mainly from April to June, overlapping with the start of the rainy season, though flights can occur at any time of the year. UF/IFAS reports drywood swarmers in South Florida in general from March through June. Swarming happens once, possibly twice, a year, and the wings are shed after short flights, so they collect near windowsills, floors and countertops.
Signs of a Drywood Termite Problem
- Small piles of six-sided pellets that return after you clean them up.
- Pinhole-sized kick-out holes in wood trim, door frames, window frames, furniture or attic framing.
- Paint or wood surfaces that look blistered, peeling or warped.
- Wood that sounds hollow or papery when tapped.
- Shed wings on windowsills, floors and countertops, especially from March to June.
- Swarmers with iridescent wings around indoor lights.
- Pellets or wings in boats, closets, cabinets or wooden furniture.
Why Drywood Termites Are a Problem
Drywood termites work slowly but steadily, and because each colony lives hidden inside wood, damage can build for years before anyone notices. When several colonies infest the same building, the damage can be extensive. They also damage things you cannot easily replace, such as antique furniture, built-in cabinetry and wooden boats.
The scale in Florida is large. UF/IFAS researchers report that nearly all structural fumigation in Florida targets the West Indian drywood termite, and they have estimated treatment costs for this one species at about $140 million a year in the state.
Where Drywood Termites Hide in South Florida Homes and Businesses
- Attic rafters, trusses, roof sheathing and fascia boards.
- Door frames, window frames, sills and baseboards.
- Kitchen cabinets, built-in shelving and closets.
- Wooden furniture, picture frames, antiques and wooden boxes.
- Boats, especially wooden boats and wood trim inside vessels.
- Older homes and buildings in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys, where the species is most common.
When Drywood Termites Are Most Active in South Florida
| Season | Drywood termite activity | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| December to February (dry, mild) | Colonies feed inside wood and keep pushing out pellets | Sweep up pellet piles and watch whether they come back; schedule an inspection. |
| March to June (swarm season) | Drywood swarms, mainly April to June for the West Indian drywood termite | Keep windows closed during swarms, check sills for wings and save samples for identification. |
| June to October (rainy season) | Colonies grow inside wood; new colonies start in cracks and joints | Seal gaps in trim and check screens on attic vents. |
| All year | Infested furniture and boats can bring colonies into new buildings | Inspect used and imported wooden items and boats for pellets and kick-out holes. |
How to Prevent Drywood Termites
- Caulk and seal cracks, joints and gaps in exterior wood trim, eaves and window frames.
- Keep exterior wood painted or sealed, since swarmers look for cracks and knots to start a colony.
- Use fine mesh screening, about 1 mm, on attic vents and openings to keep swarmers out.
- Ask about borate wood treatments for new construction, remodels and exposed attic wood.
- Inspect used furniture, antiques, picture frames and wooden boxes before bringing them inside.
- Keep outdoor lights off on swarm evenings when security allows.
- Boat owners should inspect their vessels regularly for pellets, wings and kick-out holes.
- After any treatment, clean up old pellets and wings so new activity is easy to spot.
How Toro Gets Rid of Drywood Termites
- InspectionWe inspect the attic, trim, door and window frames, cabinets, furniture and other wood for pellets, kick-out holes, wings and damage, and map how far the infestation extends.
- IdentificationWe confirm that the termites are drywood termites and not subterranean termites, because soil treatments and baits do not work on drywood termites, and tenting does not work on subterranean termites.
- Targeted treatmentA localized colony can be handled with TORO-GUARD, our non-tenting drywood treatment. When colonies are spread through the structure, we recommend tent fumigation, which reaches every piece of wood in the building.
- Follow-up and protectionWe check for new pellets and wings after treatment and recommend sealing and prevention steps. Our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee means that if the bugs come back, so will Toro, at no additional cost to you.
Toro Pest Management has protected South Florida since 1969, from Coral Gables and Miami Beach to Key West, where the West Indian drywood termite was first recorded in Florida. Our technicians train at the TORO Institute at our Miami headquarters with on-staff entomologists, and we respond within 24 hours, guaranteed. Learn about our termite control service or call 305-594-4767 for a free inspection and $25 off your first service. Hablamos Español.
Seeing signs of drywood termites? Get a free inspection and $25 off your first service.
Schedule Your Free InspectionDrywood termites: Frequently Asked Questions
What do drywood termite droppings look like?
Drywood termite droppings, called frass, are tiny hard pellets with six flat sides. They feel gritty between the fingers and range from cream or light brown to red and almost black, regardless of the color of the wood. They look like sand, sawdust or coffee grounds and collect in small piles below kick-out holes in wood trim, windowsills, furniture and attic framing.
How do I know if I have drywood termites?
The most common sign is small piles of pellets that come back after you sweep them up. Other signs are pinhole-sized kick-out holes about 1 to 2 mm wide, wood or paint that looks blistered or warped, wood that sounds hollow or papery when tapped, and shed wings on windowsills after a swarm. A professional inspection can confirm whether the colony is still active.
Do I need to tent my house for drywood termites?
Not always. UF/IFAS notes that a spot treatment may work when the infestation is confined to one piece of wood. When there are multiple colonies throughout the structure, tent fumigation is described as the most cost-effective option, because it is the only method that reaches every termite in the building when done correctly. Most drywood infestations do not need emergency treatment, so there is time to get an inspection.
Why does tenting work for drywood termites but not subterranean termites?
A drywood termite colony lives entirely inside the wood of the building, so a fumigant that fills the whole structure reaches the whole colony. Subterranean termite colonies live mostly in the soil or in trees outside the tent, so fumigation kills only the termites inside and the colony can return. Soil treatments and baits, in turn, do not work on drywood termites.
When do drywood termites swarm in South Florida?
UF/IFAS reports drywood termite swarmers flying from March through June in South Florida, and the West Indian drywood termite swarms mainly from April to June, overlapping the start of the rainy season. Flights can occasionally happen at other times of year. Swarmers are attracted to lights and leave piles of wings near windows, floors and countertops.
Can drywood termites spread through furniture?
Yes. The West Indian drywood termite lives only in man-made wooden objects and structures, and UF/IFAS notes it spreads when infested wood is moved. Furniture, picture frames, wooden boxes, antiques and boats can all carry colonies. Check used and imported wooden items for kick-out holes and pellets before bringing them into your home.
How long do drywood termite colonies take to cause damage?
Drywood colonies grow slowly. In the West Indian drywood termite, soldiers appear about two to three years after a colony starts, swarmers are produced from about the fifth year, and colonies can persist for more than ten years. Damage builds up over those years, and several colonies in the same building can cause extensive damage together.
Related Pests
- Termites in South Florida
- Formosan Subterranean Termite
- Asian Subterranean Termite
- Eastern Subterranean Termite
- Silverfish
- Ants
Pest Control Across South Florida
Toro treats drywood termites in homes and businesses throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, including:
- Miami
- Hialeah
- Doral
- Miami Beach
- Coral Gables
- Homestead
- Fort Lauderdale
- Hollywood
- Pembroke Pines
- Miramar
- Boca Raton
- West Palm Beach
Last updated: October 29, 2026
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