Florida Drywood Termite Control in West Palm Beach, FL

What are the signs of Florida drywood termites in your home?

• Termite pellets left on window sills

• Wood damage

• Tiny kickout holes in hardwood

• A slight clicking sound inside wood

• The appearance of white winged insects inside your home

• Finding termite wings on windowframes or baseboards or countertops

• Damage that looks like water damage

• Hard-to-close doors

What time of year do Florida drywood termites swarm in Florida?

Florida drywood termites swarm in Florida between March and July.

How do I know which type of termite I have?

There are three major classifications of termites in Florida. The most common type we see in area homes are drywood termites. The type of termite that does the most damage to area homes are subterranean termites.

• Drywood Termites:

  • Drywood termites have brownish-yellow bodies with black heads and measure between ? and  ? of an inch long.

  • Drywood termites include the following native species:

    • Florida drywood termite

    • Drywood termite

    • West Indian drywood termite

    • Western drywood termite

• Dampwood Termites: 

  • Dampwood termites have light to dark brown bodies and are ¾ of an inch long.

  • Dampwood termites include the following native species:

    • Florida dampwood termite

• Subterranean Termites: 

  • Subterranean termite soldiers are cream-colored with darker heads (usually a light brown or caramel color) and measure around ? of an inch in length. 

  • Subterranean termites include the following native species:

    • Eastern subterranean termite

    • Cuban subterranean termite

  • Subterranean termites include the following invasive species:

    • Formosan subterranean termite

    • Asian subterranean termite

    • Eastern subterranean termite

Do I need to prepare my home for termite control services?

The preparation needed will vary by case. Your technician will let you know how to get your home ready for termite control.

How can I prevent termites?

• Create a crushed rock barrier of at least 12-18 inches between the foundation and any soil or mulch.

• Moisture attracts termites. Eliminate areas of standing water near your home, fix leaky pipes and fixtures.

• Repair leaky air conditioning units that are causing water to pool around your home’s foundation.

• Don’t put off the task of cleaning gutters. Clogged gutters allow rainwater to build up and seep into your home’s roof and walls.

• Do not over-plant shrubbery and other landscaping near your home’s foundation. The sun hitting the soil around your foundation will help to keep it dry.

• Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to limit excess moisture in your home.

• Repair any damage to your home’s foundation, exterior walls, or the roof that could allow termites inside.

• Inspect antique wooden furniture or other wooden items for signs of drywood termites before bringing into your home.

• Outside of your home, eliminate damp or rotting wood that could attract termites to your property. Leaf piles, wood mulch, fallen trees, and tree stumps should be removed.

Can I treat termites myself?

You can, but we wouldn't recommend it. There are many products that promise to control and eliminate termites, but the product manufacturers rarely let consumers know that these products can fail to do the job when they are inappropriately applied, or not applied frequently enough.

When these products fail, you're not likely to know it. Since termites only swarm a few times a year, you may think they were eliminated but in reality they just stopped swarming for a few months. And then termites will continue to be allowed to consume the wood in your home, right under your nose.