Termite season in Florida runs from February through July, with different species swarming in overlapping waves across those months. But here’s the catch: termites feed on wood 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “Termite season” really refers to swarming season, when winged reproductive termites leave their colonies to mate and start new ones. That’s when you’re most likely to notice them, but the damage happens year-round.
Peak Swarming Months by Species
Florida is home to four major termite species, each with its own swarming window. Eastern subterranean termites are the most common species in the state and across North America. They swarm during daytime hours from late February through May, with peak flights in March and April, typically right after a warm rain.
Asian subterranean termites, an invasive species that has established itself in South Florida, swarm during evening hours from March through May. Their schedule overlaps heavily with eastern subterraneans, which means South Florida homeowners can face near-continuous swarming pressure starting in late winter.
Formosan subterranean termites pick up where the others leave off. They swarm at night from May through early July and are strongly attracted to lights. Formosans are among the most destructive termite species in the world, with colonies that can number in the millions. Drywood termites round out the season, swarming at dusk and into the evening from late spring through fall. Unlike the other species, drywood termites don’t need soil contact. They live entirely inside the wood they eat, which makes them harder to detect.
How Location Changes the Timeline
The farther south you live in Florida, the earlier and longer the season runs. In Miami-Dade and the rest of South Florida, mild winters allow subterranean swarming to start as early as late January. Drywood termite flights can appear in almost any month. A flight phenology study published in the Journal of Economic Entomology found that Asian subterranean termites fly from mid-February through late May in South Florida, while Formosans peak from early May through late June. Those overlapping windows mean South Florida homeowners face nearly continuous termite pressure from February through summer.
In Central and North Florida, cooler winters push the first swarms out to March or April and compress the active season into a shorter window. You still get all the major species (except Asian subterraneans, which haven’t spread as far north yet), but the pressure is less relentless.
Invasive Species Are Spreading North
A University of Florida study found that both the Formosan and Asian subterranean termite continue to expand their range with no signs of slowing. The Asian subterranean termite, once thought to be largely confined to South Florida, has now been documented as far north as Brevard County on the Atlantic coast and Hillsborough County (Tampa) on the Gulf Coast. The Formosan subterranean termite is established across most of Florida’s coastal counties and in most large urban centers statewide. Based on current trends, researchers expect the Formosan termite to be detected in every Florida county before 2050.
This matters because both invasive species are significantly more destructive than the native eastern subterranean termite. Their colonies are larger, they consume wood faster, and they’re aggressive about establishing new territory.
Signs of an Active Infestation
Swarming season is when most people first realize they have a termite problem, because swarmers are visible. But there’s an important distinction: seeing a few swarmers outside near a porch light is normal during season. Seeing swarmers emerging from your walls, ceiling, or floors, or finding large numbers of them (or piles of shed wings) inside your home, is a red flag that a colony is living in or directly under the structure.
For subterranean termites, the most reliable sign is mud shelter tubes. These are pencil-width tunnels made of soil and saliva that run up foundation walls, support piers, or plumbing under the house. If you find one, you can break a small section and check back in a few days. If termites repair it, the infestation is active. Another telltale sign is BB-sized dots of dried mud on interior walls or ceilings. These “pinholes” appear when termites accidentally break through drywall and quickly patch the hole. They’re a sure indicator of active feeding inside your walls.
Drywood termites leave a different calling card: small, uniform, six-sided pellets that accumulate in little piles on floors, windowsills, or countertops. These are fecal pellets that drywood termites push out of “kick-out holes” in the wood they’re eating. If you find a neat pile of what looks like coarse sand or pepper beneath a wooden surface, that’s drywood frass.
How Florida Homes Are Treated
Treatment depends on the species. Subterranean termites (including Formosan and Asian varieties) live in the soil and travel up into your home, so treatment targets the soil around and under your foundation. Liquid termiticide is the most common approach. A pest control company applies it to the soil along your foundation perimeter to create a treated zone that kills or repels termites as they try to tunnel through. The best liquid treatments last 8 to 12 years or longer before they need to be reapplied.
In-ground bait stations are an alternative. These are installed at regular intervals around the outside of your home. Foraging termites find the stations, feed on the treated bait, and carry it back to share with the rest of the colony, including the queen. Bait systems work more slowly than liquid barriers, but they can destroy the entire colony rather than just blocking access to your house.
Drywood termites require a different strategy because they live inside the wood itself, not in the soil. For localized infestations, spot treatments can work. For widespread drywood infestations, whole-structure fumigation (tenting) is the standard. The home is sealed under a gas-proof tent and exposed to a fumigant gas for a prescribed period. You’ll need to vacate the home during treatment, typically for two to three days.
Reducing Your Risk Before Season Starts
New construction in Florida typically includes a preconstruction termite treatment: a horizontal barrier of treated soil under the slab and a vertical barrier around the exterior foundation. If your home was built with this protection, it doesn’t last forever. Buildings need periodic re-treatment to maintain coverage, especially in a state where termite pressure is this intense.
For existing homes, practical steps make a real difference. Keep mulch, firewood, and wood debris away from your foundation. Fix leaky faucets and air conditioning drip lines, because subterranean termites need moisture and are drawn to wet soil near structures. Make sure downspouts direct water away from the foundation. Seal cracks in your foundation and around utility penetrations. During swarming season, turn off unnecessary exterior lights in the evening, since Formosan and Asian subterranean swarmers are strongly attracted to light and may be drawn toward your home.
If your home hasn’t had a professional termite inspection in the past year, scheduling one before February gives you the best chance of catching a problem before swarm season reveals it the hard way.