Termite Swarm Season Is Here: What Mulberry Homeowners Should Do Now

Spring in Polk County brings warmer evenings, afternoon storms, and something Mulberry homeowners know all too well — termite swarms. If you’ve spotted winged insects around your windows, porch lights, or doorframes lately, you’re not alone. May is peak swarm season across Central Florida, and understanding what you’re seeing could save your home from serious structural damage.

What Flying Termites Actually Mean

Flying termites, called swarmers or alates, are reproductive termites leaving an established colony to start new ones. Seeing them doesn’t automatically mean your home is infested — but it does mean active colonies are nearby. And nearby is close enough to matter.

Swarmers are attracted to light and often appear in large numbers for a short window of time, usually after rain when humidity spikes. They’re poor flyers, so they don’t travel far. If they’re swarming inside your home, that’s a more urgent sign. Learn more about flying termite control and what distinguishes swarmers from other winged insects.

One quick way to tell termites from flying ants: termites have straight antennae, two pairs of equal-length wings, and a thick waist. Flying ants have bent antennae, unequal wings, and a pinched waist. Both are nuisances, but only one eats your home.

Drywood vs. Subterranean: Know the Difference

Florida hosts two termite types that every Mulberry homeowner should know. Each behaves differently, causes different damage patterns, and requires a different treatment approach.

Drywood Termites

Drywood termites live entirely within the wood they eat. They don’t need soil contact. You’ll often find them in attic framing, window frames, furniture, and structural wood. One of the most common drywood termite signs is the presence of tiny, pellet-like frass — their fecal matter — near baseboards, windowsills, or door frames. Bubbling or blistered wood surfaces can also indicate their presence inside.

Drywood swarms in Florida typically peak in late spring and early fall. The warm, humid air we get here in Polk County creates ideal conditions for them to establish new colonies quickly.

Subterranean Termites

Subterranean termites live underground and travel up through the soil to reach wood. They build mud tubes — pencil-thin tunnels of soil and debris — along foundation walls, piers, and crawl spaces to protect themselves as they move. These tubes are one of the clearest subterranean termite signs you can spot without a professional inspection.

Subterranean species are responsible for the majority of termite damage to structures in the United States. In Florida, they’re active year-round, but spring swarms signal their reproductive push. If you see mud tubes near your foundation or crawl space, don’t ignore them. That’s not dirt — that’s a highway to your home’s structural wood.

Why May Is a Critical Month in Mulberry

The combination of heat and moisture that defines a Florida spring is exactly what termite colonies need to reproduce and expand. The early afternoon rains that roll through Mulberry and the rest of Polk County create perfect swarming conditions — especially in the days immediately after a storm.

Acting in May matters because swarms signal the start of new colony formation. A swarmer that finds a suitable spot in or near your home in May can establish a working colony by fall. Waiting gives them a head start. An inspection now is far less disruptive — and less costly over time — than discovering hidden damage a year or two from now.

Homes near wooded lots, older landscaping, or areas with aging wood structures face higher risk. Many properties in Mulberry sit on land with mature trees and established landscaping, which can harbor existing colonies right at the property line.

What Mulberry Homeowners Should Do Right Now

Do a Visual Walk-Around

Start outside. Look along your foundation for mud tubes. Check where wood meets soil — fence posts, deck supports, door frames near ground level. Look for soft or hollow-sounding wood when you tap it. Inside, check your attic if you have one, and look along baseboards for frass or small holes in wood surfaces.

Reduce Conditions That Attract Termites

A few simple steps can make your property less inviting. Keep mulch at least 6 inches away from your foundation. Stack firewood away from the house. Fix any moisture issues — leaky faucets, poor drainage near the foundation, or clogged gutters — since moisture draws subterranean species. Make sure your crawl space has proper ventilation.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

A visual check is a good start, but termites often damage areas that aren’t visible without the right tools. Our team serving Mulberry, FL uses non-invasive detection methods to find activity inside walls and structural wood before it becomes a major problem. Early detection is always the better path.

Total Pest Solutions has been serving Polk County homeowners since 2006. Randall Durden founded the company on the idea that straightforward, honest service builds lasting relationships in a community. That hasn’t changed. You can also explore our full range of termite control services to understand what a proper treatment plan looks like.

Don’t Overlook the Rest of Your Property

While you’re thinking about termite season, it’s worth noting that spring is also when lawn and shrub stress starts to build in Central Florida. St. Augustine and Bahia lawns can weaken under summer heat if they don’t get proper care going into the season. Healthy landscaping and strong shrubs are actually part of a complete property protection approach — stressed plants are more vulnerable to both insects and disease.

If you’ve noticed your lawn or shrubs looking rough heading into summer, our shrub care services and broader lawn care services can help you get ahead of the season before the heat really sets in.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if what I’m seeing is a termite swarm or just flying ants?

The easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at wing length and body shape. Termites have wings of equal length and a straight, thick waist. Flying ants have two pairs of wings that differ in size and a pinched waist between the thorax and abdomen. Both may appear near light sources, but only termites signal a potential structural risk to your home.

If I see swarmers outside my home but not inside, should I still be concerned?

Yes, but it’s less urgent than seeing them indoors. Swarmers outside mean active colonies are present on or near your property. They don’t travel far, so any colony producing swarmers nearby is close enough to potentially reach your structure. A professional inspection can determine whether an active infestation is already present or still forming nearby.

What does drywood termite frass look like?

Drywood termite frass consists of tiny, hard, oval-shaped pellets roughly the size of a grain of sand. They’re often found in small piles below infested wood — near windowsills, baseboards, or door frames. The pellets may be light tan to dark brown depending on what type of wood the termites are consuming. Finding frass is a reliable sign that drywood termites are actively feeding nearby.

Can termites damage a home quickly?

Termites work slowly compared to a fire or flood, but over time the damage can be extensive. A well-established colony can consume wood steadily for years without obvious signs. The concern isn’t that your home will collapse overnight — it’s that termite damage is often hidden behind walls and in structural areas that aren’t visible until the problem is already serious. Early detection is what protects you.

Is termite season only in spring?

Swarming peaks in spring, especially April through June in Polk County, but termites are active year-round in Florida’s climate. Subterranean termites feed continuously regardless of season. Drywood termites may swarm again in fall. Florida’s warm temperatures mean there’s no true “off season” for termite activity, which is why ongoing monitoring is more effective than treating only after you notice a problem.

How do I get a termite inspection in Mulberry?

Getting started is straightforward. Reach out to a licensed pest control company that serves the Mulberry area, and they’ll schedule an on-site inspection of your home’s interior and exterior. A thorough inspection covers your foundation, attic, crawl space if applicable, door and window frames, and any wood-to-soil contact points. You’ll receive a clear picture of what’s present and what your options are from there.

If you’ve spotted swarmers recently or just want peace of mind heading into summer, now is the right time to act. Give Total Pest Solutions a call at 863.585.3636 and we’ll get a Polk County-based technician out to your Mulberry property to take a look.