Termites. The word alone can send chills up the spines of Florida homeowners. What’s scary is just how much homeowners don’t know about termites but are too scared to ask. Knowing the signs of a termite problem can help you prevent an infestation and save you thousands of dollars in repairs.

A Free Termite Inspection from Superior Spray Service can save you thousands of dollars in damage. 833-682-0700

Serving North & Central Florida.

What You Should Know About Termites

Most termites in Florida are subterranean termites, which includes the incredibly destructive Formosan species. Termites are dependent upon each other for survival and live in large colonies that revolve around the Queen and her King. Their colonies also include soldiers, workers and eventually reproductive alates.

Subterranean Termites

As their name states, subterranean termites live underground; sometimes up to several feet underground. These termites need to maintain contact with soil and moisture. Like their relatives, the Formosan termite who is also of the subterranean species, they create mud tubes to get themselves into your home. Subterranean termite species are found in every U.S. state except Alaska, though they are more common in humid, southern states like Florida.

Formosan Subterranean Termites

Formosan termites are a species of subterranean termites. These wood munchers are always hungry and eat 24/7. Formosan termites boast the largest colonies of any termite species in North America. Other subterranean species can have over a million termites in a colony, but Formosan colonies have up to 15 million! The workers in these colonies chew up wood, then regurgitate it to feed the others. They use their shelter, and mud tubes to maintain ideal temperatures and hide from predators. Their eating habits entail burrowing into pieces of wood and eating only the soft portions along the grain. This particularly invasive species is primarily found in the Southeastern U.S. and you guessed it, they are rampant in Florida.

How to Recognize A Termite Infestation

  • Swarming termites. Look for them near windows, doors, vents and lighting fixtures.
  • Dropped or shed wings. Termites will shed their wings after finding a new home. All of the wings will be similar in size.
  • Mud tubes or tunnels about the width of a straw
  • Hollow wood. Termites eat wood from within. Tap suspected wood with a screwdriver handle and listen for a hollow sound.
  • Termite droppings are wood colored and about the size of a grain of coarse sea salt.
  • Wood, or other surfaces that appear warped or blistered due to termite activity below the surface.

Preventing A Termite Infestation

FREE termite inspections - Facts you should know about Termites infographic
  • Eliminate moisture by fixing pipes, A/C units, and other leaky fixtures.
  • Repair cracks in your home’s foundation with caulk. Make sure to check utility lines and pipes as well.
  • Keep plants and mulch well maintained. Mulch should never touch your home.
  • Store wood on a non-wooden platform and maintain a few feet of space between it and your home.
  • Dispose of scrap wood from projects and yard debris such as tree limbs.
  • Use correctly sized screens on exterior vents.
  • Keep an eye on outdoor wooden structures (dead trees, mailbox posts, swing sets, bird feeders, etc) for signs of termites.

Safety & Satisfaction

You can be assured Superior Spray Service only uses the safest materials in our pest management practices to get the desired results. Customers will need to assist in making sure all entry points are sealed properly at windows and doorways and that any furniture is not blocking areas you would like us to treat.

After treatment, on occasion, a property owner may come across a stray bug or a couple of ants that have wandered in. Please remember that Lakeland, Winter Haven and all of Central Florida is a tropical climate and that seeing a bug here and there does not necessarily constitute a pest problem. However, if you see multiple bugs or trailing ants, please feel free to contact us and we will be more than happy to take care of these problems as fast as possible.

It is best to save a sample of any pests that may have entered your home so that they may be identified correctly. For ants, this can be done by lightly touching the ant with a piece of Scotch tape. There are various ways that we will take care of different issues, so proper identification is very important.

Superior Spray Service also offers a spider control treatment for your outdoor lanai or pool areas. If you are having a problem with spiders or other pests at your home please contact us!

Having trouble with pests?

Give us a call: 833-682-0700

Submit the form below to request a call from a Superior Spray Specialist for a Free Estimate