Drywood Termite

Risk level: high (structural damage; can infest anywhere in a home). Drywood termites are the second Florida termite, and they behave completely differently from subterranean termites.

How to identify their activity

• Frass: small, hard, ridged pellets (like sawdust or coffee grounds) piling up beneath infested wood — the signature sign.
• Kick-out holes: tiny holes in wood surfaces where termites push frass out.
• Swarmers: winged reproductives, often larger than subterranean swarmers.
• Where: anywhere in the home — attics, furniture, trim, framing, hardwood floors — no soil contact needed.

Why they matter

Because drywood termites get moisture from the wood itself, they can establish far from the ground — in an attic beam or a piece of antique furniture. Colonies are smaller and slower than subterranean, but they can be widespread through a structure, and older Tallahassee homes with abundant exposed wood are prime targets.

What to do

Treatment depends on extent: localized/spot treatment for limited, accessible infestations, or whole-structure fumigation (tenting) when they're throughout the home. Soil barriers do nothing against drywood termites — which is why identifying the species first is essential. See termite control, treatment cost, or book a free inspection.