What Do Termites Look Like?

You’re sitting in your living room when you hear a faint clicking noise. It’s subtle and easy to ignore—probably just the house settling, right? Days pass, and then you notice something unsettling: a small pile of discarded wings near the windowsill. That’s when it dawns on you—your home may have termites.

Finding termites in your home is never a welcome sight. Fortunately, early identification can make the difference between a minor problem and significant structural damage. Hulett Environmental Services’ pest control experts are here to provide the knowledge you need to spot termites and shield your home with termite control.

What Color Are Termites?

Termite color varies, as there are over 2,600 different species of termites around the world. Even within a single species, termites look different based on their role in the colony. Workers, soldiers, queens, and reproductive flying termites (alates) all have distinct sizes and coloration.

• Soldiers are often the most recognizable, thanks to their large mandibles and darker, often brown-colored heads. 
• Workers, the most numerous in the colony, are pale or creamy white. 
• Reproductive alates, which you might spot during swarming seasons, tend to be darker with two pairs of equal-length wings. 

Different Species and Types of Termites

Different types of termites have unique appearances and behaviors. Here’s a closer look at the species you’ll most likely encounter in Florida.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites are dark brown and measure between ¼ and ½ inches. Their alates have two pairs of translucent wings, while their soldiers have large mandibles, or jaws, and brown heads that contrast with creamy white bodies.

These termites are notorious for the quick damage they can cause, primarily due to their large colonies and aggressive feeding habits. Subterranean termites build mud tubes to access your home’s wooden structures from the ground, allowing them to cause significant damage quickly.

The species of subterranean termites commonly found in Florida include the invasive Formosan and Asian subterranean termites, as well as the native Reticulitermes species. 

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites are slightly larger than their subterranean relatives and have pale to dark brown coloration. Workers in a dry wood colony are larger than workers and soldiers in subterranean colonies, making the difference between the two fairly simple. The common drywood termite in Florida is the West Indian drywood termite, which can be identified by the rainbow-colored tint of their wings.

Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites live directly in the wood they consume. They chew across the grain, creating smooth tunnels as they expel their coffee-ground-like frass outside of “kick-out” holes and onto your countertops or floors. While they don’t work as quickly as subterranean termites, their ability to infest without soil contact makes them particularly challenging to control.

Dampwood Termites

Dampwood termites are among the largest termite species in Florida, significantly larger than drywood and subterranean termites. Swarmers, including their wings, can measure up to an inch in length, while soldiers can exceed ¾ of an inch.

These termites thrive in damp, decaying wood and are often found in areas with high moisture levels. Their reliance on moisture makes them less common in homes with well-maintained structures, but they can still threaten the wet or water-damaged areas commonly found across Florida. 

Formosan Termites

A particularly aggressive type of subterranean termite, Formosan termites are challenging to differentiate from other species without professional expertise. The soldiers’ heads are shaped like footballs, compared to the rectangular heads of other subterranean termites, and the swarmers can reach up to ½ inch in size.

Similar to other subterranean species, Formosan termites invade homes using mud tubes. However, they are unique in their ability to build nests above ground, eliminating the need to return to soil frequently. This behavior allows them to establish large colonies and cause extensive damage quickly if left undetected.

More Florida Termite Identification Tips

• Termites are often confused with ants, but termites have straight antennae and equal-length wings, while ants have bent antennae and unequal wing sizes.
• Check for discarded wings near windows, doorways, or light fixtures. It’s a telltale sign of a recent termite swarm.
• Look for mud tubes on walls, foundations, or crawl spaces. These are pathways for subterranean termites to access your home.

Just Call Hulett for Termite Control in Florida

If you have found termites in your home, suspect an infestation may be lurking in your walls, or want to take the highest level of precaution before a termite issue comes to you, just call Hulett! Our experienced team has the tools, experience, and specialized tent and tentless techniques to stop the advance of termites and maintain the structural integrity of your home. Enjoy peace of mind in your home year-round with professional termite control from Hulett Environmental Services.