Learn which termite clues are distinctive, which overlap with moisture damage, and how to prepare for a licensed inspection.
Look for evidence, then establish the cause
Florida homes can have drywood or subterranean termites. Drywood termites live within wood without needing soil access. Subterranean species include the native eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, and the invasive Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus. Their different nesting habits affect where an inspector looks and which treatments may be appropriate. Concrete construction and newer homes can still contain vulnerable wood, so inspect accessible foundations, entry routes and wooden components.
Termites spend much of their life concealed in wood or protected galleries. Winged reproductives may appear during a swarm, while other signs of termites include mud tubes, pellets and wood damage. Photograph what you find and note its location. Evidence needs professional identification: a pellet pile or sticking door cannot tell you how long a colony has been present.
1. Mud tubes along a foundation or entry route
Subterranean termites build protected tubes that may run over foundation surfaces, along piers or near utility penetrations. Inspect visible areas from a safe position. Tubes can be partly concealed behind landscaping or finishes, so a quick walk around the outside cannot rule out activity. A home may also have vulnerable wood-to-soil contact that needs correction.
A tube is stronger evidence than a vague sound, but it still needs assessment. Do not break it open as your only test or scrape all the evidence away before the inspector arrives. Photograph the route, note its location and arrange a termite inspection. The provider should distinguish an active route from older evidence and explain inaccessible areas.
Inside, document accessible garage door frames and baseboards near slab-to-wall joints, and bathroom or kitchen wall and under-countertop areas near plumbing. UF/IFAS illustrates mud tubes at garage door baseboards and frames, and on walls beneath countertops. Photograph accessible evidence and ask the inspector to assess whether activity is current. Leave hidden material intact and have the inspector assess inaccessible routes, plumbing moisture and structural condition.
2. Shed wings near doors, windows or lights
Termite swarmers have a broad waist, relatively straight antennae and two pairs of wings of similar length. Winged ants have a narrowed waist, elbowed antennae and larger front wings. Loose wings are useful clues, but perspective and damaged specimens can make a casual identification uncertain. A close photograph beside a scale can help a professional.
Swarmers indoors deserve prompt attention; insects outside may originate beyond the building. Do not assume that every winged insect is a termite or that killing the visible insects removes their colony. Record whether the insects emerged inside, gathered at a light or were seen outside, and keep that distinction in the inspection request.
Flight seasons differ by species. UF/IFAS gives Florida native subterranean termite windows of early December to early February for Reticulitermes hageni, early January to April for R. flavipes, and early February to late May for R. virginicus; southern populations may fly earlier within those windows. Florida Formosan termites typically fly from early April to late June shortly after sunset, with a May peak. For one important drywood species, West Indian drywood termites, UF/IFAS describes April-to-June flights while noting flights are possible at other times. Flight timing varies by species; use the calendar as background and obtain identification of the insects you find. Record time and indoor or outdoor location, obtain identification, and remember that concealed activity can exist without a visible swarm.
3. Hard pellets beneath wood
Drywood termite fecal pellets are small, hard and characteristically six-sided. They can collect beneath a small opening in infested trim, furniture or another wooden item. Sawdust, grit and other insect debris can look similar at first glance, so a photo and professional identification matter more than color alone.
A pile is not a reliable colony-age estimate. UC IPM notes that old pellets may fall when infested wood is disturbed or vibrated. Have the inspector evaluate the item and surrounding wood before deciding whether activity is current or whether one spot represents the entire infestation. Do not spray a visible pellet pile; it is evidence, not the target colony.
Include accessible attic rafters and ceiling joints when documenting pellets beneath wood, rather than limiting the search to trim or furniture. UF/IFAS associates drywood activity with attic and soffit wood. Have the inspector assess the particular overhead wood and the surrounding evidence, including access limitations; a pellet pile at a ceiling joint does not by itself establish an active colony or structural soundness. Arrange qualified access instead of entering an unsafe attic or opening concealed material yourself.
4. Hollow-sounding or visibly damaged wood
Termites can leave concealed galleries, so wood may sound different when lightly tapped. That observation is a reason to investigate, not a species test. Decay and other damage can also change the sound or appearance. Avoid probing load-bearing material or opening a wall yourself to find out.
Record the location of soft trim, exposed galleries or surface damage and protect the area from further disturbance. A pest inspector evaluates insect evidence; a qualified building professional evaluates structural strength and repair needs. Do not let a promise of pest control replace assessment of a weakened floor, frame or support.
5. Blistered paint or an uneven wall surface
Treat reported bubbling paint or an uneven wall as a reason to investigate, rather than as confirmation of termites. DOE describes peeling paint on older wood siding as a possible water-intrusion clue; that limited building observation does not establish the cause of every interior paint change. Check for a visible leak, dampness or staining without dismantling the wall. A moisture source can matter whether the ultimate cause is termites, decay, a plumbing problem or a combination.
Ask the inspector to consider both pest evidence and moisture conditions. Ask how observed dampness and suspected insect evidence will each be assessed. A moisture reading can help locate dampness, but termite identification still requires pest evidence. Repair the cause of dampness as part of the plan, and document what can be inspected before repainting hides the affected surface.
Document buckling laminate or hardwood, a spongy-feeling floor or sagging ceiling panels, and arrange a qualified building assessment. Do not label those changes termite-caused from appearance alone or assume that an absence of an obvious leak settles the cause. Ask a qualified building professional to assess the affected floor or ceiling and safe access, and a pest inspector to identify any accompanying tubes, pellets, wings or damaged wood. Avoid testing a weakened surface or opening concealed material yourself. A pest treatment proposal cannot establish that a floor or ceiling is structurally sound.
6. A door or window that starts sticking
Changes in wood or framing can affect how a door or window operates. Termite damage is one possible cause, while moisture-related swelling and building movement are alternatives. One sticking window is therefore not proof of an infestation, and it should not be dismissed simply because the house feels humid.
Note when the change began and whether it coincides with staining, mud tubes, pellets or other evidence. Provide the locations together so an inspector can follow a pattern. Seek a building assessment if movement or apparent structural damage raises a separate concern. A pest quote alone cannot determine whether a frame remains sound.
What to do after documenting a sign
Arrange a licensed termite inspection, leave useful evidence in place and describe what you observed without guessing the species. Avoid household sprays, homemade soil treatments and unplanned drilling. The selected method should follow identification: subterranean treatments and drywood treatments address different conditions, and localized work may not reach concealed infestations elsewhere.
Request a written finding that describes evidence, accessible areas and limitations. Ask about treatment, monitoring, moisture repairs and contract exclusions. For a purchase or refinance, ask the lender and closing parties which report and timing they require; confirm the requested document and timing directly before booking an inspection.
Make future evidence easier to find
Repair leaks, manage drainage and maintain visible foundation inspection space. Keep wood, stored materials and vegetation from concealing vulnerable areas. UF/IFAS recommends annual licensed termite inspections, even when no obvious signs are present. Ask the provider how later renovations or disturbed soil affect an existing protection plan.
On Demand Pest Control has served customers since 2017. Contact the team to discuss an inspection and a written scope tailored to the actual findings. Keep photos, reports and repair records together so later inspections can compare changes rather than relying on memory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How quickly can termites damage a Florida home?
There is no universal months-to-damage figure. The termite species, colony, affected material and conditions matter, and the first visible sign does not reveal when infestation began. Arrange inspection rather than using a timetable to decide it is safe to wait.
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Can I have termites without seeing any visible signs?
Termites can remain concealed without obvious surface signs. Accessible inspection, evidence identification and a clear statement of inaccessible areas are more useful than treating a quiet exterior as proof that the home is clear.
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What is the difference between termite swarmers and flying ants?
Termite swarmers have a broad waist, relatively straight antennae and similar-length wing pairs. Winged ants have a narrowed waist, elbowed antennae and larger front wings. A professional can confirm an uncertain photograph or specimen.
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How much does a termite inspection cost in Florida?
Ask whether you are booking a standard sales/service termite inspection or an official real-estate WDO report or clearance letter. ODPC’s termite service page advertises its standard inspection and written quote as free, while official closing reports are a separate paid service. Confirm the applicable inspection/report fee and scope before booking; a treatment quote is a separate decision.
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Should I try to treat termites myself or hire a professional?
Document signs and improve safe access, but have suspected structural infestation assessed professionally. Spraying swarmers or pellets does not determine the colony location or deliver appropriate treatment.
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Are termite inspections required when buying a home in Florida?
Ask the lender and closing parties which inspection or wood-destroying-organism report they request and when it must be delivered. Confirm that the inspector is appropriately qualified for that document. A standard sales/service inspection and an official closing report should not be assumed to be the same booking; verify the transaction’s requested paperwork before ordering it.
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