South Florida has more kinds of termites than almost anywhere in the country, and they don’t all get treated the same way. A drywood colony living inside a window frame needs a completely different plan than subterranean termites coming up through a slab.
Here is how to tell which one you have, when they show up, and how treatment decisions usually get made.
The termites you will find in Miami and Broward
South Florida termites fall into two groups.
Subterranean termites
Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel up into a structure through cracks, expansion joints and plumbing gaps. They need moisture, so they build mud tubes to stay protected as they move. South Florida has three you’ll hear about:
- Eastern subterranean termites, the native species found across most of the U.S.
- Formosan subterranean termites, an invasive species known for very large colonies and fast damage.
- Asian subterranean termites, another invasive species that is especially established in South Florida.
Drywood termites
Drywood termites don’t need soil contact. They live entirely inside the wood they eat: framing, trim, window and door frames, furniture and attic lumber. The most common in South Florida is the West Indian drywood termite, which has been spread through infested furniture and wood for a long time.
How to tell which one you have
- Mud tubes on the foundation, garage wall, slab edge or inside cabinets point to subterranean termites.
- Small piles of hard pellets, like coarse sand or ground pepper, under windowsills, baseboards or furniture point to drywood termites. They push these droppings out of tiny “kick-out” holes.
- Swarmers or discarded wings on windowsills and near lights can be either kind. The species and the time of day help tell them apart.
- Hollow-sounding or blistered wood can be either, and needs an inspection to confirm.
When termites swarm in South Florida
Swarming is how established colonies send out winged reproductives to start new colonies. In South Florida, subterranean swarms are most common in late winter through early summer, often on warm, humid evenings after rain. Formosan swarmers are strongly attracted to lights, so you may see them gathered around porch lights or windows. Drywood termites also swarm in the warmer months, often at dusk or at night.
A few swarmers outside are normal in South Florida. Swarmers inside your home, or piles of wings on indoor windowsills, usually mean there is a colony in or very near the structure. That is the time to schedule an inspection.
How termites are treated
Subterranean termites
- Liquid soil treatment: a termiticide is applied to the soil around and under the structure to stop termites coming up from the ground and to eliminate those that pass through it.
- Bait systems: stations installed around the home are monitored, and bait is consumed by foraging termites and shared through the colony.
Drywood termites
- Spot or localized treatment works when the infestation is limited and accessible, such as a single window frame or piece of trim.
- Whole-structure fumigation (tenting) is used when drywood termites are widespread or hidden in places that can’t be reached, such as inside walls and attic framing. The structure is covered and filled with a fumigant that reaches every piece of wood, then aired out before you return.
When tenting makes sense, and when it doesn’t
Tenting is the right call when there are signs of drywood activity in several rooms, in the attic, or in areas that can’t be opened up. It treats everything at once. It is not usually needed for a single, accessible infestation, and it does not protect against subterranean termites coming from the soil, which need their own treatment.
If you do tent, expect to leave the home for a few days, remove or bag food and medications according to the instructions you’re given, and arrange for pets and plants. Your pest control company will give you a full prep list.
Buying or selling a home
Many Florida home sales and refinances require a Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) inspection. Swat It! provides termite and WDO inspections in Broward and Miami-Dade with the official Florida WDO report, and we can schedule around your closing date.
Frequently asked questions
Are termites worse in South Florida than other places?
South Florida’s heat and humidity support several termite species year-round, including invasive Formosan and Asian subterranean termites and West Indian drywood termites, so homes here face more pressure than in most of the country.
How do I know if I need to tent my house?
Tenting is usually recommended for drywood termites that are widespread or hidden in inaccessible areas. A single, accessible infestation can often be handled with a localized treatment. An inspection is the only way to know.
Does tenting stop subterranean termites?
No. Fumigation targets termites inside the structure’s wood. Subterranean termites come from the soil and need a soil treatment or bait system.
Should I worry about swarmers outside?
A few swarmers outdoors in spring are normal. Swarmers or wings inside the home are a stronger sign of a nearby colony and worth an inspection.
Seeing swarmers, pellets or mud tubes? Call Swat It! in South Florida at (954) 231-5900 or see our termite control page. Related: Common pests in Miami, season by season.
