Subterranean Termites

There are three different divisions or castes of subterranean termites in a colony:

Workers are white, approximately 1/8” long, and wingless.

Soldiers are slightly larger than the workers, wingless, and white or beige and have large brown heads with chewing jaws.

Reproductives are the largest members of the colony. These 1/2” long-winged termites are responsible for enlarging the colony through mating and reproduction.

Subterranean termites are typically found in underground colonies and rarely emerge into the open, so if you’re not looking for them, they may go unnoticed until they start doing serious damage. They get around by constructing mud tubes or tunnels between nests and the wood they feed on. These mud tubes are often found in building foundations, walls, crawl spaces, basements, or building exteriors. The small, cylindrical tunnels can vary in size but are typically about the width of a pencil or smaller, and will feel dry and brittle to the touch. If you find these tubes, that’s a sign you have a termite colony and it’s time to contact a professional for a termite inspection.

Subterranean termites are active throughout the year with swarming in the spring. In Florida, they’re most active in the warm and wet months of spring and summer.

Subterranean termites live and feed in the soil, but they will also nest in wet wood. They are attracted to wood or other items that contain cellulose for food and they are attracted to light. They need moisture to survive, so areas with high humidity or water leaks like clogged gutters, leaky pipes, or poor drainage around foundations can attract them. Make sure there is no wood touching the exterior of your house or foundation.

These silent destroyers are very destructive to wood structures but CBS (concrete block/stucco) homes are not immune. With wood structures, they can tunnel into your home from their nest and attack any wood structure that they happen to find, which will weaken the structural integrity of your home over time.

With concrete block homes, they can tunnel between the blocks to reach the wood in your attic. They can literally eat you out of house and home, and most of the time without you knowing until it’s too late!

Repairing termite damage can be expensive, as it can involve replacing important structural elements, such as beams or framing, or even rebuilding parts of the home. Don’t wait until termite damage is done, contact Nozzle Nolen at the first sign to remove and control termites.