One of the scariest parts about having termites in your home is that, in many cases, it’s hard to know they’re even there until they’ve done significant damage.

At Total Pest Solutions, we offer termite control services for properties in and around Polk County, Florida. Termites cause billions of dollars in damage to homes in the U.S. each year, but we can help you avoid becoming part of that statistic.

There are two main species of termites that live in our area: drywood and subterranean.

Subterranean termites are the most destructive species of termite. They come in three different “castes”:

• Workers – about 6 mm long, light colored, and wingless
• Soldiers – long heads and mandibles
• Reproductives – dark-colored, with 2 pairs of wings

Reproductive subterranean termites are often mistaken for flying ants, but they are smaller than ants and have straight antennae. They build “mud tunnels” to reach food and escape the open air. After mating, these termites shed their wings, so if you see piles of wings that are all the same size on your windowsills (they look similar to fish scales), you may have a subterranean termite infestation.

Drywood termites are less common than subterranean termites, but they can cause very substantial damage. They can grow to be up to 12 mm long and require very little moisture to survive, so they can typically be found in dry wood, like the framing in your attic, wood furniture, or firewood that is kept too close to the house. They typically leave behind distinct fecal pellets called frass, which are about 1 mm long and can often be seen on windowsills, siding, in the eaves of your attic, etc.

All of our termite treatment programs come with a full guarantee. All termites will be controlled or prevented fast after initial treatment.

If you have questions or think you might have termites in your home, feel free to give us a call. We can come out and perform an analysis to see if you need termite control. If you wait too long, it can be dangerous, especially if you have wooden porches or balconies that may become weakened by termite infestation. Watch for warning signs and contact us at the first signs of termite damage.