It happens every year around this time in Tampa Bay. You walk into a room and find a small pile of tiny wings near a window, a door frame, or a piece of furniture. It’s easy to sweep them up and forget about it. But after 40 years in the pest control business, we can tell you: those wings deserve your full attention.
You may be witnessing the beginning of a drywood termite infestation — and the earlier you catch it, the better your options.
What Are Drywood Termites?
Florida is home to two main groups of termites: subterranean termites, which live in the soil, and drywood termites, which live directly inside dry wood. As their name suggests, drywood termites need no soil contact — they can set up a colony inside your furniture, door frames, window casings, roof framing, or wall studs.
Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites don’t rely on moisture from the ground. They extract all the water they need from the wood they’re eating. This makes them uniquely well-suited to Florida’s environment and uniquely difficult to detect until damage has already occurred.
What Does Swarming Actually Mean?
May and June are peak swarming months for drywood termites throughout Tampa Bay. Swarming is the reproductive phase of a termite colony — when winged reproductive termites (called alates) emerge in large numbers to find a mate and start new colonies. They’re strongly attracted to light, which is why you typically find them near windows, light fixtures, and exterior doors.
After swarming, the termites shed their wings. That pile of thin, equal-length wings is usually the first — and sometimes the only — visible sign that termites are active nearby.
Here’s what’s important to understand: the swarmers themselves aren’t eating your wood. They’re the reproductive caste, looking for a suitable place to start a new colony. If they find an unprotected piece of dry wood in or around your home, that’s exactly what they’ll do. Within months, a new colony can be actively feeding on structural wood.
Signs of Drywood Termite Activity
Beyond discarded wings, watch for these indicators:
- Frass (termite droppings): Drywood termites push their fecal pellets out of small kick-out holes in the wood. These pellets are tiny, hexagonal, and match the color of the wood being consumed. You might notice small piles that look like coarse sawdust or sand near baseboards, window sills, or wooden furniture.
- Hollow-sounding wood: Tap along a door frame, baseboard, or piece of trim. A hollow or papery sound can mean termites have excavated galleries inside.
- Blistered or buckling wood: Surface irregularities in wood paneling or floors can indicate activity beneath.
- Visible galleries: In more advanced infestations, you may be able to see the honeycomb-like tunneling pattern inside damaged wood.
Why Early Detection Matters So Much
Drywood termites work more slowly than subterranean termites — but they work silently. By the time you see significant structural damage, a colony has typically been feeding for years. A mature drywood colony can number in the thousands and may occupy multiple areas of the same home simultaneously.
Catching it early gives you treatment options. A localized, recently established infestation can often be addressed with targeted spot treatments. A widespread, multi-location infestation may require whole-structure fumigation — the process commonly called “tenting.” The difference in cost and disruption is significant.
A Note on DIY Treatment
We understand the appeal of over-the-counter termite products. But drywood termites are notoriously difficult to treat without professional-grade materials and the knowledge of how and where to apply them. Improper treatment can scatter a colony deeper into the structure, compounding the problem.
Our consistent recommendation: get a professional WDO (Wood-Destroying Organism) inspection first. It gives you an accurate picture of what’s happening before you spend money on anything else. Knowledge is the best first step.
What We Do
Pestex has been performing termite inspections and treatments throughout Tampa Bay, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco Counties for over 40 years. We’re licensed for both WDO inspections and structural termite fumigations, so we can identify the problem and handle it — no referrals needed.
If you’re finding wings, frass, or hollow-sounding wood, reach out. It costs nothing to have a conversation, and a proper inspection gives you the peace of mind of knowing what you’re actually dealing with.
Pestex Services Inc. is a family-owned pest control company based in Tampa. We’ve been protecting Tampa Bay homes and businesses since 1985. Call us at 813-960-PEST or visit pestexweb.com.