Choosing the wrong treatment for the wrong termite species wastes time and money. Here's everything you need to know to identify which termite you're dealing with — and what to do about it.
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Deep Dive
Subterranean termites are Florida's most destructive pest. They build massive underground colonies and forage up through the soil to attack wood in your home's foundation, framing, and flooring. The Eastern Subterranean and Formosan Subterranean species are both present in Florida — the Formosan being far more aggressive.
They require moisture and maintain contact with the soil, which is why you'll see mud tubes — their highways between the ground and your wood. Without these tubes, they dehydrate and die.
Deep Dive
Drywood termites are sneaky. They enter through small cracks in wood, attic vents, or gaps in rooflines and establish colonies entirely within the wood — no soil, no mud tubes. The first sign is often frass (tiny pellet droppings) appearing on windowsills or floors below infested wood.
Because they spread through wood-to-wood contact, a single home can have multiple separate infestations in different locations. When spread is extensive, whole-structure fumigation is the only complete solution.
Not Sure?
The fastest way to know for certain is a professional inspection. TAPS technicians are trained to identify both species and recommend the correct treatment — not the most expensive one.
You likely have Subterranean if:
You likely have Drywood if:
TAPS will identify the species, assess the damage, and recommend the right treatment — not the most expensive one.