Florida’s warm, subtropical climate and high humidity create an ideal environment for wood-destroying insects to thrive and reproduce year-round. This habitat profile has established the state as a major center for termite activity, hosting nearly 20 different species. These insects consume cellulose found in wood and other plant matter, making any structure built with wood a potential food source. The constant warmth allows termites to maintain their destructive feeding and foraging activities without the seasonal slowdowns seen in cooler climates. This combination of favorable conditions and numerous species means Florida property owners face an elevated and persistent threat of infestation.
The Most Destructive Threat: Subterranean Termites
Subterranean termites represent the most significant threat to structures because of their large colony sizes and constant need for soil contact and moisture. These species maintain their primary nest underground and travel into structures to feed. They construct distinctive earthen tunnels, known as mud tubes, which run along foundation walls or other surfaces to provide a sheltered pathway between their soil colony and the wooden food source.
The native Eastern Subterranean Termite is the most common species and is widespread across Florida. Colonies of this native species typically contain several hundred thousand individuals and can cause extensive damage. Their activity is often centered on wood in contact with the ground or areas with consistent moisture issues.
The invasive Formosan Subterranean Termite, often called the “super termite,” is more aggressive and destructive than its native counterpart. These termites establish colonies that can number in the millions, allowing them to consume wood at an accelerated rate. They can create secondary, above-ground nests—called carton nests—within a structure’s walls or attic if a consistent moisture source is present. This ability to maintain a colony without direct soil contact bypasses traditional barrier treatments and allows for faster, more widespread structural damage.
Termites That Live in Wood: Drywood Species
Drywood termites are the second major group of structural pests in Florida. Unlike subterranean species, drywood termites do not require contact with the ground or an external moisture source. They spend their entire life cycle and establish their colony within the timber they consume.
The two main species are the native Southeastern Drywood Termite and the invasive West Indian Drywood Termite. These termites typically infest non-decayed wood in upper structural elements, such as roof framing, fascia boards, and attic spaces, but they also attack furniture. Their colonies are much smaller and develop more slowly than those of subterranean termites, meaning the damage they cause progresses more gradually.
The most characteristic sign of a drywood infestation is the presence of fecal pellets, known as frass, which they eject from the wood through small “kick-out” holes. Workers push these hard, six-sided, sand-like pellets out of the wood. The presence of these droppings below wooden items or near window sills is a strong indicator of their activity.
The Lesser Known Species: Dampwood Termites
Dampwood termites are distinguished by their strict requirement for wood with high moisture content. These termites are the largest species found in the state, yet they are less common as pests in sound, dry structures. They primarily infest logs, dead trees, and stumps, and will only attack a home where wood has become saturated or decayed.
These termites do not forage in the soil like subterranean species. Instead, they use their droppings and wood fibers to plug any openings in the wood they are infesting. This helps them maintain the high-humidity environment necessary for their survival. Eliminating the source of the excessive moisture is the most effective method for controlling a dampwood termite infestation.
Recognizing the Evidence of Infestation
Identifying the specific type of termite infesting a structure relies on recognizing the distinct evidence each species leaves behind. The appearance of winged reproductive termites, known as swarmers, is often the first visible sign of a mature colony. Subterranean termite swarmers typically emerge in large numbers, and their discarded wings are frequently found near light sources.
Drywood termite swarmers emerge in smaller groups during daylight hours, and their shed wings are found closer to the infested wood.
Subterranean termites are uniquely identified by the presence of mud tubes on foundations or walls. Their excavated galleries within the wood are packed with soil and mud. Drywood termites leave behind galleries that are clean and smooth, confirmed by the piles of six-sided fecal pellets (frass) they push out of the wood. Dampwood termites use fecal pellets to plug holes, and their galleries are found only in wood that is visibly wet or decaying.