Termites

Subterranean Termite

Description: Subterranean Termites are the most destructive and frequently encountered termite in the state of Florida. There are three divisions of Subterraneans within each colony: workers, soldiers and reproductives. The workers are approximately 1/8″ in length, are wingless and white to beige in color. The soldiers are slightly larger, are wingless, white to beige in color but have large brown heads and chewing jaws. The winged reproductives are roughly ½” and are responsible for enlarging the colony through mating.

Seasonality: Year-round with swarming season in the Spring.

Attractions: Subterranean termites live and feed in the soil which provides the moisture they require, but they also nest in wood that is wet.

They feed on wood or other items that contain cellulose, such as paper, fiberboard, and some fabrics derived from cotton or plant fibers. They are also attracted to light. Subterranean Termites live underground and multiply by the thousands. They come above ground for food and may be detected by the presence of mud tubes, which they build to move around in. Termite wings break off shortly after their flight, and even though the actual swarming is not observed, the presence of discarded wings indicates that a colony is nearby. Because termites are attracted to light, their broken-off wings are often found in piles near doors or windows.

Damage: Subterranean termites can attack structures by building tubes that connect their nest to wood in structures. Aerial nests can occur without a ground connection if all castes of the colony are present and moisture is available. Their damage to wood includes tunneling damage and elimination of wood structure. These termites can literally eat you out of house and home.

Formosan Subterranean Termite

Description: Formosan Subterranean Termite workers look similar to those of native subterranean species. It is almost impossible to positively identify Formosan Termites with just the workers, but the soldiers and reproductives look very different and are easy to identify. Soldiers have orange-brown, oval-shaped heads that are quite different from the more rectangular, straight-sided head of native Subterranean Termite soldiers.

Seasonality: Year-round with swarming season in the Spring.

Attractions: The Formosan Termite originates from China but can now be found around the world. Swarms are quite large with up to tens of thousands of swarmers. The swarmers are attracted to light and are often found around windows, light fixtures, windowsills, and spider webs in lighted areas. After swarming and landing on the ground, they break off their wings and search for a mate to start a new colony. Formosan Subterranean Termite colonies are much larger than those of native subterranean termite species. Some have been estimated to have over 8 million individuals compared with about 1 million termites in large native Subterranean Termite colonies. Like many other termites, the Formosan Termite feeds on wood and other materials that contain cellulose, which is the main structural component of plants.

Damage: Formosan Termites are the most destructive termite in the world. Although they feed mostly on wood, they will eat other cellulose-containing materials such as cardboard and paper. However, they are also known to chew through foam insulation boards, thin lead and copper sheeting, plaster, asphalt, and some plastics. The size of Formosan colonies combined with their undiscerning palate makes this species extremely destructive.

Drywood Termite

Description: Drywood Termites are small, approximately 3/8″ and similar to the Subterranean species, have distinctive castes within the colony. However, unlike the Subterranean, the workers, soldiers, and reproductives are not as easily distinguished.

Seasonality: Year-round with swarming season in the Spring.
Attractions: Drywood Termites are normally found in humid, coastal areas. Drywood Termites nest and feed in dried out wood where they remain until swarming season to create another colony. Attics, eves, windowsills, baseboards, beams and doorways are some of their favorite nesting places. On the exterior of the home any wood that can be bored into is a potential target. These pests also attack furniture, paper, wallboard, or any other cellulose material. The most common sign of an infestation is a pile of frass (fecal pellets which look like tiny pieces of wood). This is often described as and mistaken for “a pile of sawdust”. You may also see piles of wings near the nesting site as this pest loses its wings shortly after take off.

Damage: Drywood Termites are slow eaters but will eat through wood until there is virtually nothing but a thin wall left, which serves as a barrier between them and the outside environment. They build extensive cities within the wood creating mud tunnels, mounds, and tubes which allow them to move about safely. Similar to its cousin, the Subterranean, this pest will literarily eat you out of house and home.

Powderpost Beetle

Description: Powderpost beetles are small, brown insects usually less than ¼” in length that attack seasoned hardwoods.

A sign of their presence is numerous small holes about 1/16” to 1/8” in diameter and a fine, powder-like sawdust in flooring, paneling, furniture, and other wood materials.

Attractions: These Wood Destroying Organisms are attracted to stored lumber, rafters, joists, finished wood, and furniture products.

As a rule, they enter lumber while it is being stored and cured, and then later emerge from the finished product.

Old pieces of furniture and wood antiques are especially vulnerable to attack by these beetles.

Damage: Powderpost Beetles can do a significant amount of damage to wooden structures, furniture, and priceless antiques.

Although they are not as abundant in Florida as termites, they should be taken seriously because of their ability to eat and destroy wood.