Key takeaways
- Drywood termites leave piles of tiny six-sided pellets; subterranean termites leave mud tubes. Knowing which you have decides the treatment.
- The major South Florida termite species swarm from about February through November, and some fly outside those months, so there is no truly off season.
- The West Indian drywood termite has its largest populations in older buildings in the southern half of Florida and infests furniture as well as framing.
- Fix leaks, keep wood off the soil, screen attic vents and schedule an annual inspection, especially for an older home.
- Store-bought sprays do not reach termite colonies; drywood and subterranean termites need different professional treatments.
In this article
Termite damage in South Florida usually looks like small piles of sand-like pellets, thin mud tubes on the foundation, discarded wings on windowsills, or wood and paint that blister and sound hollow. By the time doors stick or floors feel soft, the termites have often been feeding for a long time. Getting ready means learning these signs, knowing when each species swarms and making your home harder to infest.
South Florida has both kinds of destructive termites: drywood termites that live inside dry wood, including furniture and attic framing, and subterranean termites that live in the soil and tunnel up into the house. They leave different evidence and need different treatments, so this guide covers both.
Why Termites Are Such a Problem in South Florida
The climate here suits termites all year. Warm temperatures, high humidity, frequent rain and plenty of wood construction give colonies what they need, and several invasive species have settled in.
- The West Indian drywood termite was first recorded in Florida in 1918, in a Key West building. According to UF/IFAS, its largest populations are in older buildings in the southern half of the state, and nearly all structural fumigation in Florida is done to control it.
- The southeastern drywood termite is the most common drywood termite in Florida.
- The Asian subterranean termite was first found in the continental United States in 1996, at a storefront and a church in Miami. Broward and Miami-Dade were the first counties where UF/IFAS documented it and the Formosan subterranean termite established together, and a 2026 University of Florida study found the Asian species as far north as Brevard and Hillsborough counties.
- The Formosan subterranean termite lives across Florida, mainly in dense urban areas, and forms underground colonies of several million.
What Does Termite Damage Look Like?
Termites eat wood from the inside, so the surface often looks fine while the inside is hollowed out. The evidence depends on the type of termite.
| Sign | Drywood termites | Subterranean termites |
|---|---|---|
| Droppings | Tiny six-sided pellets, cream, red or black, piling up below the wood | None visible; galleries often contain soil |
| Tunnels | None outside the wood | Pencil-width mud tubes on foundations, slab edges and walls |
| Holes | Pinhole “kick-out” holes about 1-2 mm wide | Rarely visible |
| Wood | Hollow or papery sound when tapped; blistered surface | Hollow wood with soil in the galleries |
| Paint and drywall | Blistering, peeling or warping over infested wood | Bubbling paint, crumbling drywall near the floor |
| Where to look | Attics, window sills, door frames, fascia, furniture | Foundation, garage, bathrooms, anywhere wood is near soil or moisture |
| Swarmers | Winged termites and shed wings indoors | Formosan and Asian swarms at dusk or night, drawn to lights |
Drywood Termite Damage
Drywood termites push their droppings out of the wood through small kick-out holes. UF/IFAS describes the pellets as six-sided and cream, red or black in color. Depending on how high the hole is, they form a neat pile or a scattered circle below. Other signs are surface blistering, warping and a hollow, papery sound when the wood is tapped.
These termites infest framing, flooring, window sills, doors, fascia boards, attics and furniture. Southeastern drywood colonies grow slowly, but UF/IFAS notes that structural damage can be extensive when several colonies are present. For more on why the damage stays hidden, see why drywood termite damage is harder to spot.
Subterranean Termite Damage
Subterranean termites build mud tubes to travel from the soil to wood without drying out. Look first where wood touches soil or stays damp, especially near the foundation. Inside the house, look for crumbling drywall near the floor, deteriorating floors and door frames, and bubbling paint. Many homeowners first find the damage during remodeling.
Moisture damage and termite damage can look alike, and the two often appear together. Our guide to water damage vs. termite damage explains how to tell them apart.
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When Termites Swarm in South Florida
Swarms are the most visible warning sign. Winged termites leave a mature colony to start new ones, and each species flies in its own season.
active peak
Source: UF/IFAS EDIS (IN236, IG098, IN278, IN285)
Formosan termites typically swarm shortly after sunset, and Asian subterranean termites at dusk or at night, so both are drawn to porch lights and lit windows. UF/IFAS notes that West Indian drywood termites can fly at any time of year, even outside their main April-to-June window. Between all the species, swarm season in South Florida runs from late winter into late fall. Our article on termite swarming season covers what to do if a swarm appears inside.
A few swarmers do not always mean your home is infested. But UF/IFAS lists winged termites or shed wings found inside as a sign of infestation, especially when they keep turning up.
How to Get Your Home Ready for Termites
You cannot make a South Florida home termite-proof, but you can make it far less inviting and much easier to inspect. These steps come from UF/IFAS and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Keep the House Dry
- Repair leaking pipes, AC lines and roof leaks promptly. FDACS warns that an unrepaired leak or foundation crack can invite termites into your home.
- Keep gutters clean and add downspout extensions so roof runoff drains away from the walls.
- Redirect sprinklers so they do not spray the walls.
- Make sure the yard slopes away from the house. FDACS puts it simply: a home should sit on a small hill, not in a bowl.
Keep Wood Away From the House
- Store firewood, lumber, tree trunks and branches away from the house and off the ground.
- Keep siding and foam board insulation 6 to 8 inches above the soil, as FDACS recommends, so the foundation stays visible.
- Replace rotted wood around doors, windows and fascia boards.
Close the Way In
- Caulk and seal cracks, gaps around windows and doors, and openings where wires and pipes enter the house.
- Screen attic vents, doors and windows. For drywood termites, UF/IFAS recommends 20-mesh screening, especially in the attic.
- Paint or seal exposed wood, and fill cracks before painting.
- Inspect used furniture, antiques and salvaged lumber for pellets and kick-out holes before bringing them inside.
Schedule Inspections
FDACS notes that termites do their damage behind closed walls, so damage can build for years before anyone notices. It calls an annual inspection a must for older homes. See what to expect during a termite inspection so you know what the inspector will check.
Why Store-Bought Termite Products Fall Short
Spraying termites you can see kills a few insects and leaves the colony untouched. UF/IFAS states that controlling Formosan termites requires professional pest control services because over-the-counter products are unlikely to work. Drywood colonies sit inside walls, attics and furniture where sprays cannot reach.
The two types also need completely different treatments. UF/IFAS notes that soil treatments and termite baits are ineffective against drywood termites, because the colonies live inside the wood, while tenting does nothing for subterranean termites living in the soil.
How Professionals Treat Termites
Treatment depends on the species and how far the infestation has spread:
- Subterranean termites: bait systems placed in the soil around the house, or liquid soil treatments. UF/IFAS recommends the same baits and soil treatments for Asian subterranean termites as for Formosan termites.
- Localized drywood colonies: drill-and-treat injections into the galleries or kick-out holes, or removal of the damaged wood.
- Widespread drywood infestations: tent fumigation, which UF/IFAS describes as the primary control method when an infestation is widespread or hard to reach.
At Toro, termite control begins with a free inspection that identifies the species and checks how far the damage goes. For subterranean termites, Toro installs the Sentricon baiting system around the property, with no drilling into the slab and no trenches. Localized drywood termite colonies can be treated with TORO-GUARD, a non-tenting injection treatment, so you do not have to leave home. When drywood termites have spread through the structure, tent fumigation treats all the wood at once; our article on fumigation myths explains what tenting does and does not do.
Toro has protected South Florida homes since 1969, with technicians trained at the TORO Institute alongside on-staff entomologists. If you are buying a home, Toro also offers pre-purchase termite inspections.
Before You Sign a Termite Contract
FDACS explains that Florida termite warranties come in three types: retreatment only, retreatment and repair (which generally costs more) and spot or no warranty. For preventive treatment on new construction, Florida requires a warranty that can be renewed annually for at least four more years. Ask what is covered and excluded, which treatment method will be used and how often stations are checked, and confirm that the company is licensed.
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305-594-4767Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources
- West Indian Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes brevis (EDIS IN236), UF/IFAS Extension
- Drywood and Dampwood Termites (EDIS IG098), UF/IFAS Extension
- Formosan Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes formosanus (EDIS IN278), UF/IFAS Extension
- Asian Subterranean Termite, Coptotermes gestroi (EDIS IN285), UF/IFAS Extension
- Protecting Yourself and Your Property Against Subterranean Termites, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- New Study Shows Invasive Termites Threatening Homes in Florida Are Spreading Farther Than Predicted, University of Florida News
Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.
