On Florida's Treasure and Space Coast, termites never really stop. Our warm temperatures and high humidity let subterranean termite colonies stay active almost year-round, working silently inside walls and under floors. By the time most homeowners notice a problem, the colony has often been feeding for months. The good news: termites leave clues. If you know the five signs of termites in your Florida home, you can catch an infestation early and treat it before it threatens the structure.
1. Mud tubes on your foundation
Subterranean termites — the most common type in our area — build pencil-width mud tubes to travel from the soil to the wood they eat. Check the foundation, slab edges, crawl spaces and the base of exterior walls for thin tubes of dried mud. Break one open: if it's rebuilt within a few days, the colony is active.
2. A swarm of winged termites (or discarded wings)
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In spring and after warm rains, mature colonies release winged 'swarmers' that look a little like flying ants. They quickly shed their wings, so you may find small piles of identical wings on windowsills, near doors or around light fixtures. A swarm near or inside your home is a strong sign of an established colony nearby.
3. Hollow-sounding or sagging wood
Termites eat wood from the inside out, leaving a thin shell. Tap baseboards, door frames and trim — a dull, hollow sound can mean damage underneath. Floors that feel spongy, or paint that looks bubbled or rippled, are also red flags.
4. Tight-fitting doors and windows
As termites tunnel through frames and add moisture, wood warps. Doors and windows that suddenly stick or are hard to close — especially in just one part of the house — can point to hidden termite activity rather than just Florida humidity.
5. Frass (termite droppings)
Drywood termites push their droppings, called frass, out of tiny holes. It looks like small mounds of ridged, sand-like pellets near skirting boards, windowsills or furniture. If you keep sweeping up the same little piles, take a closer look.
Off-the-shelf products only reach the termites you can see — never the colony in the soil or deep in the wood. That's why DIY termite treatment almost always fails, while the colony keeps feeding. Termites need a targeted treatment of the structure and the surrounding soil by a licensed technician.
What to do if you see the signs
Don't disturb the area or spray it — that can scatter the colony and make treatment harder. Instead, get a professional termite inspection. A licensed Rhino technician will confirm the species, find every entry point and breeding site, and treat the structure and soil the right way, then keep a protective barrier in place so they don't come back.
Schedule an annual termite inspection even if you see nothing. Catching a colony early is the single cheapest way to avoid four- and five-figure structural repairs down the road.
Termite damage is rarely covered by standard homeowner's insurance, which is exactly why early detection matters so much in Florida. For a deeper primer, see the University of Florida's Featured Creatures — then, if any of these five signs sound familiar, it's worth a free inspection and a year-round protection plan.