You noticed them on the way out to grab the paper. A small drift of translucent wings on the welcome mat, caught in the corner where the screen meets the frame. Not one or two. A handful. Maybe more than a handful.You almost swept them up without thinking. Most Palm Beach County homeowners do.What you found on your doorstep is the only evidence an Asian subterranean termite swarm leaves behind. The swarm itself happened around 9pm while you were watching TV. Thousands of winged reproductives left a mature colony somewhere within a few hundred feet of your home, flew toward the nearest lights, shed their wings, and either died overnight or paired off and went underground to start new colonies.
This is not the termite your parents dealt with. Asian subterranean termites are invasive, aggressive, and now established across Palm Beach County in ways UF/IFAS researchers did not predict a decade ago. The damage timeline is years faster than native species. And they are specifically adapted to find homes lit at night, which describes almost every property in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, and Wellington.
"We have a concrete block home. Termites cannot get into concrete."
The Eastern subterranean termite has been here for as long as Florida has been Florida. South Florida homeowners have lived alongside it for generations, and pest professionals have a well-developed playbook for handling it.
The Asian subterranean termite, scientific name Coptotermes gestroi, is a different story. It is invasive. It was first detected in Florida in the early 1990s. UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center now documents Asian subterranean termite establishment across most of South Florida, with active populations confirmed in Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County, and the surrounding region.
Three things make it more dangerous than the native species you may already know about.
Seeing termite swarmers around lights or windows is one of the earliest warning signs and should lead to a professional inspection quickly.
Rainy season drives mosquito populations. Afternoon storms create constant breeding conditions, making outdoor evenings the hardest time of year without protection.
Cockroaches, ants (especially ghost ants), fleas, ticks, and rodents stay active every month in Lantana’s climate.
For Lantana families, starting treatment before rainy season begins makes a major difference. Waiting until mosquitoes are already heavy is much harder to control.
Fire ants are one of the most overlooked dangers in Palm Beach County yards.
A mound can appear quickly, even in a lawn that looked fine days earlier. If a child or pet steps on it, dozens of stings can happen within seconds.
Spring is when colonies expand fastest, and mound activity becomes more visible.
The most reliable control method is:
Fleas and ticks are not just outdoor pests in Lantana – they become indoor problems quickly.
They attach to pets, clothing, or even children playing outside and get brought into the home.
Once inside, they reproduce fast.
Palm Beach County’s environment, warm, humid, and full of wildlife, keeps flea and tick pressure high year-round.
Protection requires a combination of:
South Florida has some of the highest termite activity in the country, and annual termite inspections catch problems early before damage spreads.
April and May are the ideal time to begin treatment so protection is in place before populations explode.
Do not wait for visible mounds to multiply. Treat the entire yard during peak season.
Keeping pests from entering the home starts outside, at the foundation and entry points.
From nearby beaches to parks and community spaces, Lantana offers a lifestyle centered around being outside. The key to enjoying it is not eliminating pests completely — that is unrealistic in South Florida. It is controlling them to the point where they are no longer part of your daily experience. With the right approach, your yard stays usable. Your evenings stay comfortable. And your home stays protected.
For local parks, outdoor spaces, and family activities in the area, many families use resources like Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.
1177 Hypoluxo Rd Suite C-31 Lantana, FL 33462 (561) 727-8239
464 NW Peacock Blvd, Unit 106 Port St Lucie, FL 34986 (772) 783-4300
