Termite Warning Signs Every Brevard County Homeowner Should Know

The main termite warning signs in a Brevard County home are mud tubes on foundation walls, small piles of pellets under wood, swarming insects with discarded wings, and wood that sounds hollow when you tap it. Which sign you find tells you which kind of termite you have. That matters, because each kind is treated differently.

TL;DR

• Mud tubes mean subterranean termites. Six-sided pellets mean drywood termites.
• Swarmers and loose wings near a window mean a colony is close, sometimes inside.
• Hollow wood and paint that bubbles with no leak behind it are late signs.
• Do not spray store products on a suspected colony. Identify it first.
• A termite bond only helps if you read what it covers.

Subterranean or drywood: which termite do I have?

Florida has more than one termite, and the signs are different. Subterranean termites live in the soil and travel to your house. Drywood termites live inside the wood and do not need soil at all.

According to UF/IFAS Extension, subterranean termites build tubes from soil, droppings and chewed wood to keep from drying out. You find them on foundation walls, piers, and around garage door frames and slab joints. UF/IFAS also lists pipe penetrations and stucco that runs below grade as places the tubes hide. Technicians say the garage expansion joint and the bathroom trap access are the first spots inspectors check, so start there. Their damage follows the grain of the wood.

Drywood colonies have no mud tubes. They push out dry, six-sided pellets, called frass, and the pellets pile up under the infested wood. UF/IFAS says those piles, and small kick-out holes in the wood, are often the only obvious sign.

When do termites swarm in Florida?

Swarmers are the winged termites that leave a colony to start a new one. Subterranean termites mostly swarm in spring, and sometimes a smaller swarm comes in fall, according to UF/IFAS. The same agency lists Asian subterranean termites swarming around early March at dusk, Formosan termites in late April to early May, and West Indian drywood termites around April.

Pest companies in Brevard report two windows. Subterranean swarms run roughly January to May and come in daylight. Drywood swarms run roughly May to November and come at dusk. Termites still feed all year, though. A quiet month does not mean a clear house.

Swarmers are small, about a quarter to three eighths of an inch for subterranean termites. After they land, they shed their wings. A little pile of loose wings on a windowsill or in a spider web is a sign. Technicians say a pile of wings that are all the same length means swarmers.

People often mistake a flying ant for a termite. UF/IFAS Charlotte County gives three checks:

• Waist: a termite has a thick, straight body. An ant is pinched in the middle.
• Antennae: a termite has straight antennae. An ant has bent ones.
• Wings: a termite has four wings of equal length. An ant has front wings longer than the back pair.

If you are still unsure, catch a few in a jar and have them identified.

The late signs: hollow wood and bubbling paint

Termites eat wood from the inside and can leave a thin skin on the surface. Tap baseboards, door frames and window sills. A hollow sound is a late sign. So is paint that bubbles or blisters when no water has leaked behind it, and doors or windows that start to stick. Water leaks cause these too, so treat them as a reason to look closer, not as proof.

What we see in Brevard

Most Brevard homes are concrete block with a slab foundation. Termites can reach the wood above the slab through small cracks and gaps, and the signs often hide behind stucco, drywall and trim. Mud tubes tend to show up on the slab edge, inside the garage, and at expansion joints.

Drywood termites are common on the beachside and across the Space Coast, in attics, soffits, window frames and furniture. Humidity stays high most of the year, and that suits both kinds. Snowbird homes are a special case, because a house that sits shut for months can build a problem nobody sees. We cover that in opening a snowbird home.

What to do now

1. Look at the slab edge, the garage corners and the door frames for pencil-width mud tubes.
2. Check windowsills and the floor under them for wings and pellets.
3. Look at the mulch. UF/IFAS advises a bare strip about 6 inches wide between mulch and the wall, with mulch under 2 inches deep, so you can see the foundation.
4. Take photos. Do not break open a mud tube and do not spray it, because you may drive the colony somewhere you cannot see it.
5. Save a few insects or pellets in a sealed container for identification. UF/IFAS offers help with identification.
6. Get a professional termite inspection, then ask what the bond covers.

Why does a termite bond matter in Brevard?

In a warm, wet climate, waiting until you see termites is a poor plan. A bond is a written agreement that the company will inspect and stand behind its treatment for a set time. Read the terms. Under Florida rule 5E-14.105, a termite contract carries a banner on page one that says either RETREAT ONLY or RETREAT AND REPAIR, and it must name any species it excludes. UF/IFAS warns that some companies exclude Formosan and Asian subterranean termites from warranties, and that many will not cover a home with spray foam insulation, because it hides the wood from inspection.

Our termite control page explains how a trench and treat barrier and our 10 year bond work.

When to call somebody

Call a professional if you find mud tubes, a pile of pellets, or a swarm inside the house. These do not go away by themselves. An inspection tells you which termite you have before anyone treats. Termite work is quoted separately from our plans on the pricing page, and you can reach us any time through the contact page.

Sources

• UF/IFAS Extension: Termite Prevention and Control
• UF/IFAS News: As Florida enters termite swarm season
• UF/IFAS Extension: Drywood Termite, Cryptotermes cavifrons
• UF/IFAS Charlotte County: Termites are in the air
• UF/IFAS Extension: Subterranean termites
• UF/IFAS Extension: Mulch and termites
• FDACS rule 5E-14.105: termite contracts

Frequently Asked Questions