Florida's warm, humid climate makes it one of the highest-risk termite regions in the country. The tricky part: termites work silently, often for years, before you notice. Here are five signs to watch for.
1. Mud tubes on your foundation
Subterranean termites build pencil-width mud tubes up foundation walls to travel between the soil and your home. If you see thin brown tubes on exterior or interior walls, that's a strong indicator of active termites.
2. Discarded wings near windows and doors
When termites swarm to start new colonies (common in Florida spring), they shed their wings. Small piles of identical translucent wings on windowsills or near light sources are a classic early warning.
3. Hollow or blistered wood
Termites eat wood from the inside out. Tap suspect wood — if it sounds hollow or the surface looks blistered and papery, termites may be inside.
4. Frass (drywood termite droppings)
Drywood termites push out tiny wood-colored pellets that look like sawdust or coffee grounds, often in small piles below the infested wood. Finding frass means an active drywood colony.
5. Sticking doors and windows
As termites tunnel and introduce moisture, wood warps — making doors and windows suddenly stick or feel tight. It's easy to blame humidity, but it can signal termite activity.
What to do if you see the signs
Don't wait. Termite damage compounds quickly and isn't usually covered by homeowners insurance. A professional inspection confirms whether termites are active and which species, so treatment (liquid barrier, baiting, or both) targets the real problem. We offer free termite inspections across Riverview and Tampa Bay.