What Drywood Termites Are Doing to Fort Myers Homes (That You Can’t See)

What Drywood Termites Are Doing to Fort Myers Homes (That You Can’t See)

Jul 23, 2025 | Florida Termite Control

Fort Myers’ warm, coastal environment makes it a perfect breeding ground for termites, and drywood termites are among the most destructive species in the area. These silent invaders don’t need soil to survive, allowing them to infest wooden structures like walls, furniture, and flooring. Their hidden colonies can cause thousands of dollars in damage before you even spot the problem.

Drywood Termites and Their Hidden Damage

Why Fort Myers Homes Are at Risk

With its consistent warmth and humidity, Fort Myers offers ideal conditions for drywood termites to thrive year-round. Homes with exposed wooden features like decks, siding, or furniture are especially vulnerable to infestations.

Perfect Conditions for Infestations

  1. Year-Round Warmth allows termites to remain active and spread quickly, unlike in areas with colder winters.
  2. Swarming Season: Termites swarm to establish new colonies, often choosing nearby structures. Swarmers are attracted to light, so spotting discarded wings around windows or doorframes is an early clue.
  3. No Ground Contact Needed: Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites live entirely inside the wood they consume, bypassing the ground and silent tunneling systems that typically reveal termite activity.

For homeowners in the region, staying proactive is key to avoiding long-term structural damage.

Hard-to-Spot but Devastating

Drywood termites are particularly dangerous because they live and feed within the wood itself, leaving no visible tunnels like their subterranean counterparts. Their infrequent visibility often means the damage is severe by the time it’s found.

Signs of an Infestation

Look for subtle clues that termites may be present in your home, such as:

  • Frass (Termite Droppings): Small, pellet-like droppings with a distinctive six-sided shape, often found near infested wood. Discarded Wings: Found around windows, doors, or light fixtures.
  • Hollow-Sounding Wood: Tap on wooden areas; if they sound hollow or weak, it could indicate internal damage.
  • Warped Doors or Windows: Damaged wood can swell, making doors or windows difficult to open.

Because their colonies remain hidden within the wood, professional inspections are often the best way to confirm termite activity early.

Protecting Your Home from Drywood Termites

Prevention is always easier and more affordable than repairs. Taking proactive steps to safeguard your home can go a long way in avoiding termite issues altogether.

Prevention Tips

  • Seal Gaps and Cracks: Inspect for openings in walls, roofing, and around utility lines, then close them with caulk or other sealants.
  • Treat Wood Surfaces: Paint, seal, or varnish exposed outdoor wood, such as decks or siding, to make it less attractive to termites.
  • Inspect Furniture: Check used furniture closely for termite signs before bringing items into your house.
  • Clean Regularly: Remove leftover wood scraps, cardboard boxes, or other clutter from around your home that may provide food or shelter for termites.
  • Schedule Regular Inspections: Professional assessments from termite control experts help detect any termite presence early and prevent damage from spreading.

Take Action to Protect Your Fort Myers Home

Drywood termites may be hidden, but their impact can devastate your home’s integrity and your wallet. The key to combating these invaders is understanding the risks, knowing the signs, and acting quickly when issues arise.

By staying proactive with sealing, inspections, and professional pest control, you can keep your Fort Myers home safe from these silent destructors. Invest in termite prevention today with a pest control company near you and enjoy peace of mind for years to come!

Drywood Termite Control Tips for Pembroke Pines Residents

Drywood Termite Control Tips for Pembroke Pines Residents

Mar 12, 2024 | Florida Termite Control

Drywood termites are quite common in the South Florida area, thriving off our year-round dry and humid temperatures. This termite type can be difficult to spot in homes and will often go undetected for lengthy periods, causing considerable structural damage. The best way to avoid the costly damage of drywood termites is to understand their characteristics and the preventative measures you can place to deter them away from your property. Let’s learn more about these household pests and drywood termite control tips to protect your home.

What Are Drywood Termites?

Unlike the subterranean termite, drywood termites do not need to live in soil to survive. These termites will instead excavate wood to create a colony and live. Drywood termites will seek out dry wood, hence their name, to build a nest and live in it, such as attic framings. Drywood termites have an oval-shaped waist, short legs, and a cream to light brown colored body.

How Do I Know I Have a Drywood Termite Infestation?

Often, drywood termites get into your Florida home by hitchhiking through an already infested piece of old furniture, picture frame, or other wooden structure. While they don’t create mud tubes like the subterranean termite to enter the home, they instead fly directly to the wood they infest. They’ll also enter homes through open gaps or cracks around window frames, doors, soffits, and attics.

Since termites live in excavated wood, it can be hard to identify them but there are plenty of signs you can lookout for. A good indication that termites have created a colony in your home is spotting discarded wings near windowsills or doors and finding droppings or frass that look like small mounds of tiny pellets inside or around your home.

How Can I Prevent Drywood Termites from Entering My Home?

There are several preventative do-it-yourself methods you can use throughout your Florida property; consider these:

  • If you have lumber, wood, or mulch in your yard, place it away from your foundation; likewise, if you store firewood in your yard, place it 20 feet away from the home and elevate it off the ground.
  • Trim all shrubs, bushes, or other dense greenery so it does not touch the sides of your home.
  • Before bringing any antique furniture or wooden furniture inside your home, always thoroughly inspect it for drywood termites.
  • On a regular basis, check your home’s exterior for any openings leading inside and repair them as soon as possible.
  • Consider attic insulation and crawlspace encapsulation for your home to help reduce moisture, termite infestations, and other household pests from entering.

If you’ve noticed signs of termite activity on your property or would like to get started on drywood termite control, reach out to your Florida pest control company! Termite professionals will provide you with a free home inspection, a treatment plan based on your termite control needs, and a prevention plan to avoid a future infestation.

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