Protecting your Florida Home from Drywood and Subterranean Termites

Termites thrive in warmer weather and are known to create extensive damage to your home if not managed properly. This makes Florida’s warm and humid climate a hotspot for termite activity! In our sunshine state, the most common types of termites are drywood and subterranean termites. Let’s breakdown the difference between these two termite species and how you can prevent these pests from infesting your home.

Drywood and Subterranean Termites

It’s important to understand the difference between drywood termites and subterranean termites to properly treat and prevent them.

Drywood Termites

• Drywood termites live inside dry wood and do not need contact with soil.
• A good indication on whether drywood termites have infested is finding small piles of wood pellets or frass, tiny holes in wood surfaces, and discarded wings near windowsills or light fixtures.
• Drywood termites cause significant structural damage by hollowing out wood from the inside out.

Subterranean Termites

• Subterranean termites build colonies in the soil and require moisture to do so. They will often create mud tubes to travel between their nest and food sources.
• Signs of a subterranean termite infestation include mud tubes on exterior walls, foundations, or crawlspaces. Other infestation signs include damaged wood that sounds hollow and swarms of winged termites.
• These termites will destroy foundations, support beams, and other wooden structural causing thousands of dollars in repairs.

Termite Prevention Tips

There are several do-it-yourself prevention tips that you can utilize to prevent both drywood and subterranean termites. Consider the following:

• Seal any cracks and crevices in your home’s exterior using caulk or steel wool depending on the size.
• Keep attics, basements, and crawlspaces well-ventilated and dry; consider encapsulating your crawlspace to help with excess moisture.
• Fix leaky faucets, pipes, and air conditioning units to prevent standing water.
• Make sure your home’s drainage system directs water away from the foundation.
• Keep firewood, lumber, and other wooden materials elevated and away from your home’s foundation.
• Keep shrubs, trees, and other vegetation trimmed away from your home.
• Schedule an annual termite inspection with a professional Pompano pest control company near you. These professionals will provide you with a thorough inspection and termite control options if termites are found.