Drywood termites live inside wood without needing soil contact. Treatment depends on the extent and accessibility of colonies, with localized treatment and structural fumigation serving different scopes.
What are drywood termites?
Drywood termites can live within wood used in houses, cabinets, doors and furniture without maintaining contact with soil. They obtain moisture from the wood and their metabolism. That makes a soil treatment aimed at subterranean termites an unsuitable substitute for identifying and treating a drywood infestation. Compare subterranean termites separately; dampwood termites are another group associated with much wetter wood.
UF identifies the West Indian drywood termite, Cryptotermes brevis, as an important structural pest in southern Florida. It can travel in infested wooden articles. Other drywood species occur, so the location alone is not enough for species identification. Colonies remain concealed and develop over years. Swarmers may indicate a mature colony, but one flying insect outdoors does not prove that a building is infested.
Recognize pellets, wings and wood evidence
A drywood colony can expel small, hard fecal pellets through a kick-out hole. Under magnification, typical pellets have six longitudinally indented sides. They may accumulate below trim, furniture or another piece of wood. A photograph beside a scale and the precise location are more useful than calling every dark grain “termite dirt.” Drywood termite identification should include the insect or pellet structure where possible.
Pellets can be cream, red, dark brown or black. UF’s account of C. brevis says pellet color is not determined by the color of the wood being eaten. Light pellets do not prove a colony is feeding on pale cabinets, and dark pellets do not date an infestation. Sawdust, insect debris and other pests’ droppings can look similar without magnification.
Combine pellet findings with shed wings, kick-out holes, blistered wood surfaces and inspection of accessible framing or furniture. Our termite warning-sign guide adds context. Do not drill into framing or dismantle a wall to test a suspicion. A pest professional should identify the termite and map accessible versus inaccessible evidence; a contractor may be needed for suspected structural damage.
Choose treatment by the area it can reach
The first decision is whether the infestation appears localized and accessible or is widespread, uncertain or concealed. Termite control methods differ in their reach. Localized work treats identified wood or galleries. Whole-structure fumigation is intended to treat accessible and hidden infestations throughout the enclosed structure. Neither a convenient product name nor a “no-tent” label answers the question of whether every colony has been reached.
A proposal should identify the evidence, treatment boundaries and inspection limitations. Ask whether an infested furniture item can be treated separately or damaged wood should be removed and repaired by the appropriate tradesperson. Specialized localized methods, including professional heat treatment, require suitable equipment and a provider qualified for that method. Confirm which methods the inspecting company actually offers; do not improvise heating.
Localized liquid, foam and wood treatments
Borate treatments on accessible raw wood and labeled injections into termite galleries may be suitable for particular conditions. Surface finishes, the depth of infestation, product formulation and access limit what treatment can reach. No general claim that a product penetrates four inches, protects a structure for its lifetime, or makes it termite-resistant follows from the ingredient alone.
Gallery injection requires finding the infestation and delivering a labeled product into the affected wood. Treating the nearest pellet opening cannot prove that distant galleries or a second colony were treated. A foam can or a broad surface spray should not be represented as automatic whole-colony control. Ask the applicator how the target area was identified and what remains inaccessible.
Fipronil and imidacloprid appear in some termiticides; the actual label specifies target pests, sites and application methods. The NPIC fipronil fact sheet explains ingredient properties and exposure precautions. Our DIY termite discussion should be read with those limits: professional identification and a labeled, site-appropriate plan matter more than a homemade application recipe.
BORATHOR MAX PT container with disodium octaborate tetrahydrate listed on the pictured label. Follow the current registered label for application instructions.
When structural fumigation is considered
For widespread or inaccessible infestations, licensed structural fumigation may be appropriate. The structure is enclosed and a fumigant such as sulfuryl fluoride is applied under strict professional controls. Occupants, pets and specified items must be managed according to the written preparation instructions. Only the authorized fumigator’s clearance permits reentry; an elapsed number of hours, the absence of odor or opening windows is not a homeowner clearance test.
Review termite tenting with the provider and ask how the treatment area, monitoring and aeration will be managed. Connected units require coordination with the owners and responsible parties. Discuss roof, landscaping and access constraints before choosing a method. Fumigation has a different scope from localized liquid treatment, and selection depends on the building and findings.
Fumigation does not leave residual protection against a later introduction. It also does not repair damaged wood. Our fumigation cost guide is a discussion aid; the relevant price is a written quote for the inspected structure, preparation, treatment and any separately scoped repairs or monitoring. Ask what the proposed treatment covers and which limitations apply.
Prevention and post-treatment monitoring
Inspect wooden furniture and other articles before bringing them inside. Maintain appropriate screens, exterior seals and sound building details. Complete exclusion of termite swarmers is difficult, so sealing does not establish permanent immunity. A professional may recommend a labeled preventive treatment to accessible susceptible wood, with its limits stated in writing.
Pest-control insulation and attic dust are not substitutes for a drywood inspection or proof that all colonies are prevented. Whether any insulation product lists a particular termite, and under what conditions, must be checked against its actual label. Do not broadcast pesticide dust across an attic based on a generic product category or assume a lower utility bill or lifetime termite protection.
After treatment, document or clear existing pellets as the provider directs, then note new accumulations and any swarmers. Old pellets can fall from previously infested wood when vibrations dislodge them, so a few returning grains do not settle the success question alone. New growing piles warrant follow-up inspection. Confirm the monitoring arrangements and the exact written warranty or exclusions rather than expecting a guaranteed termite-free future.
Arrange a drywood termite inspection
Discuss termite treatment with On Demand Pest Control and request an inspection-based scope. Location information is available for Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, Pembroke Pines, Naples and Fort Myers; confirm the service available at your address. Call 954-947-0805 or use the contact form. Confirm quote and inspection arrangements before booking.
Sources and further guidance
Questions about this problem
Do new pellets after treatment prove it failed?
A growing new pile should be reported for inspection, but old pellets may fall from treated wood when vibration dislodges them. Record the location and pattern for the provider.
Does fumigation prevent future drywood termites?
Structural fumigation targets the current infestation and provides no residual barrier to a new introduction. Prevention and any written follow-up coverage are separate questions.
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Vincent founded On Demand Pest Control in 2017 and is a Florida Certified Operator in all four state categories. He treats pest control as a systematic problem to solve, not a symptom to spray. Read Vincent’s full bio →