Key takeaways
- A subterranean colony usually needs about five years before it is large enough to invade a building, so damage builds quietly.
- Termites eat any cellulose, including cardboard, paper and books, and concrete or steel buildings are not termite-proof.
- At University of Georgia test sites, 83% of infestations entered through expansion joints in the slab.
- Florida has two main termite types, drywood and subterranean, and each needs a different treatment and contract.
- Termite-damaged wood can be repaired or replaced once the colony is controlled.
In this article
- 1. Colonies Are Huge, and They Grow Quietly for Years
- 2. Termites Build Hidden Highways Into Your Home
- 3. They Eat More Than Lumber
- 4. A Tiny Gap Is All They Need
- 5. Florida Has Two Main Types, and the Treatment Depends on Which One You Have
- 6. A Swarm Is a Warning, Not Always an Infestation
- 7. Termite Damage Can Be Repaired, but Time Matters
- What to Do With These Facts
- Frequently Asked Questions
The most important thing to know about termites is that they do their damage out of sight. Colonies grow for years before they reach your house, then feed inside walls, slabs and furniture while the surface looks fine, so most homeowners only find out when the repair bill is already large.
The seven facts below cut through the myths and focus on what changes your decisions: how colonies grow, what they eat, how they get in, which kind you have and what can be done once they are found. They are based on guidance from UF/IFAS, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and university extension researchers.
1. Colonies Are Huge, and They Grow Quietly for Years
A termite colony starts with just two insects, a king and a queen, and grows slowly. According to Mississippi State University Extension, a new colony may have fewer than 50 termites after a year, and it takes about five years or more to become large enough to invade a building or produce swarmers.
By then, the numbers are serious. A single colony of the eastern subterranean termite may contain 100,000 to 1,000,000 termites and forage up to 150 feet for food, according to UF/IFAS. Formosan colonies can exceed a million. One North Carolina study cited by Mississippi State found as many as 25 colonies per acre, so more than one colony may forage around the same building.
What it means for you: a clean inspection years ago does not protect you today, and a single swarm signals a mature colony somewhere nearby.
2. Termites Build Hidden Highways Into Your Home
Termites dry out easily, so they rarely travel in the open. Subterranean species build pencil-width mud tubes to cross concrete, block and brick, and those tubes also shield them from predators such as fire ants. Inside walls and hollow trees, Formosan and Asian termites can fill voids with carton, a nest material made of soil, chewed wood and saliva.
A colony may also send foragers to more than one feeding site at a time. Large, moist food sources can develop satellite nests with their own reproductives, which is one reason a spot treatment of one damaged board rarely fixes a subterranean problem.
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3. They Eat More Than Lumber
It is a myth that a concrete block house or metal furniture keeps you safe. Termites cannot digest concrete or metal, but they eat any material rich in cellulose. Mississippi State University Extension lists books, cardboard and paper alongside wood, and notes that buildings built mostly of concrete and steel are not termite-proof.
In a typical South Florida home, that means wood framing, roof trusses, door and window frames, baseboards, cabinets and wood flooring are at risk, along with stored boxes and papers in the garage. Our termite pest library shows what each species prefers.
4. A Tiny Gap Is All They Need
Termites do not need a big opening. They follow joints and cracks that most people never notice. When University of Georgia researchers tracked how termites entered buildings at their test sites, 83% of infestations came in through expansion joints, far more than through wood touching the ground. Our article on 6 things you could be doing to attract termites shows the full breakdown.
FDACS adds that large settlement cracks in a slab give subterranean termites access, and that stucco or siding that reaches the soil lets them build mud tubes out of sight. Keep a visible strip along the foundation so you can spot tubes early.
5. Florida Has Two Main Types, and the Treatment Depends on Which One You Have
FDACS points out that Florida has two main termite types, drywood and subterranean, and each needs its own treatment method and contract terms.
| Subterranean termites | Drywood termites | |
|---|---|---|
| Where the colony lives | In moist soil, sometimes in hollow trees or wall voids | Inside a single piece of dry wood, no soil contact |
| Main signs | Mud tubes, soil in damaged wood, swarmers | Small piles of hard pellets, shed wings |
| Colony size | Hundreds of thousands to millions | Small |
| South Florida species | Eastern, Formosan, Asian | West Indian and other drywood termites |
| Typical professional treatment | Baits or soil-applied termiticides | Spot treatment or tent fumigation |
UF/IFAS notes that drywood colonies can live in a single piece of wood, leave droppings year-round and are small and slow to cause damage. The West Indian drywood termite was once nicknamed the “furniture termite” because colonies were so often found in furniture, according to UF/IFAS Featured Creatures. Tenting works on drywood termites inside the structure, but it does nothing to a subterranean colony living in the soil. For the full comparison, see drywood vs. subterranean termites, or read about the drywood termites we find in South Florida homes.
6. A Swarm Is a Warning, Not Always an Infestation
Swarms are when most people first notice termites. Winged reproductives leave mature colonies to pair off and start new ones, and each species has its own season and time of day.
active peak
Source: UF/IFAS (IN369, IN278, IN285 and UF/IFAS News)
UF/IFAS corrects a common misconception: one winged termite indoors does not automatically mean your house is infested, because swarmers are drawn to indoor lights and may fly in from outside. Wings found in several areas of the home, though, suggest you need a proper inspection.
7. Termite Damage Can Be Repaired, but Time Matters
A common belief is that once termites get into something, it is ruined and must be thrown away. That is not true. Once the colony is controlled, damaged framing, trim, flooring or furniture can be repaired or replaced, and many homes have been restored this way. What termites do take away is time: the longer a colony feeds, the more wood needs to be replaced.
FDACS also warns that inspections can miss new infestations, because termites often damage wood behind walls for years before anyone notices. That is the case for an annual inspection, which FDACS calls a must for older homes, and for a termite contract you understand. Florida termite warranties come in three types:
- Retreatment only if termites come back
- Retreatment and repair if termites come back, which generally costs more
- Spot or no warranty for spot treatments
What to Do With These Facts
Use what you now know to act early:
- Walk the outside of your home a few times a year and look for mud tubes along the foundation, slab edges and garage.
- Keep boxes, paper and wood off the floor of garages and away from walls.
- Watch windowsills and light fixtures for wings during swarm season.
- Schedule a professional inspection every year, and right away if you see tubes, pellets or swarmers.
- Make sure any termite contract names the species treated and the type of warranty.
If you enjoy the biology, our list of 10 interesting facts about termites you never knew covers kings, queens, soldiers and head-banging alarms. For the yard side of prevention, read 4 reasons why termites are attracted to your home.
Toro has protected homes and businesses in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys since 1969. A Toro termite inspection is free, identifies the species and checks how far the damage goes, and treatment is backed by our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee.
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305-594-4767Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if termites are active in my house?
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How often should I get a termite inspection?
Should I buy a home with past termite damage?
Sources
- Termite Biology: Eastern Subterranean Termites and Formosan Termites, Mississippi State University Extension
- Termite Behavior, University of Georgia CAES Newswire
- Termite Season: UF/IFAS Scientist Answers Common Questions, Corrects Misconceptions, UF/IFAS News
- Protecting Yourself and Your Property Against Subterranean Termites, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- Native Subterranean Termites: Reticulitermes flavipes, R. virginicus, R. hageni (EDIS IN369), UF/IFAS Extension
- Cryptotermes Drywood Termites (Featured Creatures EENY-279), UF/IFAS Extension
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.
