The warning signs of a termite problem in Southwest Florida, what each one means, and when to act.
Quick answer: the most common signs of termites in a Florida home are mud tubes on foundations, discarded wings near windows after a swarm, frass (tiny wood-colored droppings), hollow or blistered wood, and sticking doors or bubbling paint. Termites work out of sight, so if you spot any of these, get an inspection right away.
Pencil-width mud tubes running up a foundation wall or pier are the classic sign of subterranean termites — the most common and destructive type in Southwest Florida. They build these tunnels to travel from the soil to the wood while staying moist.
In spring, winged termites (swarmers) leave the colony to start new ones. Piles of small, equal-length wings on windowsills or near doors mean a colony is active in or near your home.
Small mounds of wood-colored pellets are frass — the droppings of drywood termites, which live inside the wood itself. You will often find frass below baseboards, window frames, or wood furniture.
Termites eat wood from the inside out. Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or looks blistered and rippled, is a strong sign of active feeding.
As termites tunnel and introduce moisture, doors and windows can swell and stick, and paint may bubble or look like water damage.
Crumbling baseboards, sagging floors, or maze-like galleries in exposed wood mean an infestation has been active for a while and needs professional treatment.
Do not disturb the area or spray it — that can scatter the colony and hide the extent of the problem. Get a professional WDO/termite inspection to confirm the species and damage, then treat with the right method (see our Florida Termite Guide and termite control).
Termites work slowly but never stop — a colony can cause significant structural damage over months to a few years, which is why annual inspections matter in Florida.
You can watch for the signs above, but termites hide inside walls and soil. A professional WDO inspection confirms what a visual check cannot.
Usually no — most policies exclude termite damage because it is considered preventable, which is why prevention and inspections are so important.
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