Termites in Florida

Termites in the United States cause over 5 billion dollars in damage annually. In fact, termites cause more damage than hurricanes and all natural disasters combined and home insurance does not cover the damages. Approximately 75 percent of this damage is caused in Florida. Unless you have been a victim of an active termite infestation, most people only know what they have heard. Some of that information is accurate and some pure fiction. Hopefully these facts will give you a better understanding of termite behavior and how to protect your home. Most people are not aware of the fact that there are 3 types of termites that can be a threat to their home. Subterranean (below ground), Formosan (the most destructive), and Drywood (above ground) termites. Termites are social insects, living in a colony that have a Queen, workers, and soldiers. The Queens’s only job is to produce eggs. The workers eat untreated wood and cause substantial damage to your home. They consume wood and digest it to in order to feed the soldiers and the Queen. The soldiers have mandables (pinchers) on their heads to defend the colony against invaders like ants. In most cases termites are doing damage to your home for 3-7 years before there is any evidence of their presence. Remember, termites have survived for thousands of years by staying hidden and eating wood from the inside out. The worker termites are primarily made of protein and water and have no defense against predators except to stay hidden. Workers cannot see and only find food by randomly foraging and following temperature changes that lead to moisture and untreated wood. Most customers become of their infestation when termite colonies become too large produce swarming (flying) reproductive termites which leave wings and insect bodies around windows and light fixtures. Renovations will often reveal termites actively feeding on homes behind drywall, showers, and other coverings.