"We have a concrete block home. Termites cannot get into concrete."
Asian subterranean termites, scientific name Coptotermes gestroi, belong to the same family as the Formosan termite and share many of its aggressive traits. The species is native to Southeast Asia and was first detected in Florida in the 1990s. UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center confirms Asian subterranean termites are now established across most of South Florida, with active populations documented in Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County, and the surrounding region.
If you find dead winged insects near a porch light, pool light, or garage entry this spring, here is what to look for.
Roughly half an inch including the wings. The body itself is around a quarter inch.
Pale yellowish brown to caramel brown. Lighter than a Formosan swarmer, which tends to be darker.
Two pairs of equal-length wings extending well past the body. Translucent, slightly milky in appearance.
Straight and bead-like, not elbowed. This is the key difference from flying ants, which have elbowed antennae and pinched waists.
Strong attraction to artificial light. Swarms after sunset, peak activity from approximately 8pm to 11pm in spring.
The native species most Florida homeowners have heard of. Smaller and darker than Asian subterranean swarmers, and they swarm during daylight hours after rain, not at night. If you saw swarming activity in the afternoon, it is more likely Eastern subterranean.
Closely related to Asian subterranean termites and also invasive. Formosan swarmers are darker, closer to a yellowish-orange brown, and they also swarm at night and are attracted to lights. Physical identification between the two often requires a professional.
Reddish-brown with dark wings. Larger individual bodies. Swarm in the late afternoon and evening but are less strongly attracted to lights than Asian subterranean termites. Drywood termites live inside the wood they eat and do not build mud tubes.
Elbowed antennae, pinched waist, unequal wing lengths. Often confused with termite swarmers because both fly and swarm in spring. The wing shape and body shape give them away on close inspection.
Termite wings are distinctive once you know what to look for. A pile of identical translucent wings near a light source is not a normal occurrence.
It accomplishes nothing useful. The swarmers are mostly dead already, and spraying does not affect the parent colony or any pairs that successfully mated and went underground.
Place several swarmers and wing samples in a sealed bag or jar. A pest professional can confirm species identification, which determines treatment approach.
Document the light source, the location, the approximate quantity of wings, and the date and time. This information helps a professional determine the colony's likely location.
Asian subterranean termite colonies that produce swarmers are mature, active, and feeding somewhere within a few hundred feet. Possibly under your slab, or in the soil along your foundation, or in a neighboring property's structure already.
Asian subterranean termites spread two ways. By natural swarming, and by human-assisted movement of infested wood, including landscape timbers, mulch, used furniture, and boat structures.
South Florida’s coastal density, marine industry, and constant exchange of landscape materials create ideal conditions for both. Boca Raton, Delray Beach, and the inland portions of Palm Beach County all have confirmed established Asian subterranean termite activity. The Treasure Coast, including Port St. Lucie and Stuart, is geographically and ecologically connected to the same range and is on the spread frontier.
UF/IFAS researchers maintain an online termite distribution mapping tool that tracks documented activity zones for invasive species across Florida. Both Palm Beach County and St. Lucie County fall inside multiple confirmed activity zones.
Popular Science coverage of the UF/IFAS research confirms that Asian subterranean and Formosan termites are spreading across Florida faster than originally predicted. This is not slowing down. It is accelerating.
Switch to yellow bug bulbs or warm-spectrum LEDs on porches, pool decks, and garage fixtures during April and May. Use motion sensors where possible. Reduce the total hours lights are on after dark.
Asian subterranean termites need water. Irrigation overspray, downspout discharge near the foundation, and AC condensate lines all create conditions the species exploits.
Landscape timbers, deck posts, wood fences, and firewood piles touching the ground create direct entry pathways for soil-foraging termites.
Most termite damage discovered by homeowners has already been active for years. An annual professional inspection catches activity before the structural consequences become expensive.
If you see wings, if you see swarmers around a light, if you find a pile of small translucent wings near any exterior fixture, schedule an inspection the same week. Asian subterranean termites do not give homeowners the leisurely response window that native species sometimes do.
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
UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center — Asian subterranean termite establishment and distribution across South Florida
UF/IFAS research tracking the spread of invasive termite species across Florida with an online hotspot mapping tool
Popular Science — Asian subterranean and Formosan termites are spreading across Florida faster than originally predicted
