Termite Inspection & Treatment in South Florida

Two kinds of termites, two different problems

Subterranean termites — including the highly destructive Formosan subterranean termite found across South Florida — live in colonies in the soil and travel into a home through mud tubes, cracks in the slab, and wood that touches the ground. They need moisture, they can number in the millions, and they often feed for a long time before a homeowner sees anything. A discarded pile of wings near a window in spring swarm season is frequently the first visible clue.

Drywood termites are different. They live entirely inside dry wood — roof framing, window frames, furniture, hardwood floors — and need no contact with the soil. Their calling card is frass: tiny, hard, pellet-like droppings that pile up below kick-out holes, often described as looking like sand, pepper, or seeds. Because the colony is inside the wood, finding every infested piece is the central challenge of drywood work.

The distinction matters because treatment follows the biology. Soil-based colonies call for barrier or bait approaches around the structure. Drywood infestations may be handled with localized treatment when the infestation is truly limited and accessible, or with whole-structure approaches when it is spread through framing that cannot be reached. A provider who cannot tell you which kind you have — and show you the evidence — has not finished the inspection.

• ▸Mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, or slab edges
• ▸Swarmers or discarded wings near windows and lights
• ▸Frass piles below wood — drywood evidence
• ▸Hollow-sounding or blistered wood and paint
• ▸Stuck doors and windows from damaged framing

What a real inspection involves — including WDO reports

A proper termite inspection is a hands-on search. The inspector probes wood, taps framing for hollow spots, checks the attic where access allows, examines the exterior for mud tubes and wood-to-ground contact, and looks for moisture conditions that invite termites — plumbing leaks, poor drainage, and mulch piled against the wall. In South Florida attics, heat limits how long anyone can work, so ask whether the attic was actually entered and what was visible.

For real estate transactions, Florida uses the Wood-Destroying Organisms (WDO) inspection report. Lenders and buyers rely on it, and it must be completed by a properly licensed pest control business. The report covers visible evidence of termites and other wood-destroying organisms, prior treatment evidence, and conducive conditions — it is a report of what was visible and accessible at the time, which is why choosing a careful inspector matters more than choosing a fast one.

You should receive findings you can act on: where evidence was found, whether activity appears active, what treatment is recommended and why, and what it costs. Get the treatment quote in writing, with the method, the area covered, and any warranty or service agreement terms stated plainly.

Treatment options and how to choose

For subterranean termites, common approaches include liquid treatments that create a treated zone in the soil around and under the structure, and bait systems that place monitored stations around the home and eliminate colonies as they feed. Both have long track records; the right choice depends on construction type, soil and water conditions, prior treatment history, and how the home is built — for example, homes on the water or with wells can face restrictions on soil treatment.

For drywood termites, localized treatments can work when the infestation is small, confirmed, and fully accessible. When activity is widespread or hidden in inaccessible framing, providers may recommend whole-structure options. Tent fumigation is the best-known of these and is a major undertaking with strict preparation and safety requirements; a provider should walk you through exactly what it involves, what it does and does not do (it leaves no residual protection), and what reinfestation prevention looks like afterward.

Whatever the method, ask three questions: what evidence says this treatment fits my infestation, what does the warranty actually cover and require, and what conditions at my home — leaks, wood-to-ground contact, heavy mulch — need fixing so the problem does not return. PestBreeze connects you with independent local providers; we do not inspect or treat ourselves. Request a Local Pro or call 786-741-7667, and mention if you need a WDO report for a closing deadline.

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