Termite

Living in Port Charlotte and Southwest Florida provides many challenges for homeowners. Living in a sub-tropical enviroment termites can be the the most destructive insect you may be likely to encounter on a year around basis. These guys cause millions of dollars in damage to Florida homes each year by chewing away at your home and most of the time you don’t even know it is happening.

Homeowners should also protect their investments and have preventive termite treatments applied to their homes on average every 5-7 years it is not only cheaper than repairs from the damage termites can cause, it is a peace of mind.

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New Construction Pre-Treat Termite Services​

Annual Termite Inspections (With A Service Plan)​

Ask us about Our Stand-alone Termite annual Inspections​

Termite Baiting And Monitoring Systems​

Real-estate Termite Inspections​

Home Termite Inspections

Preventative Termite Service

Termite Spot Treatments​

Bug Off Pest Offers comprehensive and complete termite services

Rhinotermitidae

Cuban Subterranean (Prorhinotermes simplex) ​

These termites do damage structures. they are identifiable in the following ways. The workers white and They are found in southern Florida, Caribbean. they nest in wood and forage in soil they transparent. The Soldier is light yellowish in color with an ovoid head. the Alate of this species is Reddish brown in color, small in size with wings that displays two veins on the front edge and a single branched vein covered with very fine hair on the wing.these termites swarm January-March and then again from August -early January.​

Cuban subterranean termite

Formosan Subterranean

Found in Southeast U.S., Southern California, Hawaii. Workers are light in color and small. the soldier is yellowish in color, Small with an oval shaped head these termites feed on spring wood, insulation and forage in the soil.and they swarm March-July.​

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Asian Subterranean termite (Heterotermes Caribeus)

These are found In Southeast Florida, Caribbean, South America. They nest in soil and forage in soil they consume wood and insulation (Cellulose materials). The workers are light in color, small yellowish in color with an oval shaped head. These termites swarm February- July Dusk to midnight when there is high humidity.​

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Communication within a Termite colony

Termites have a similar way as many social insects of communicating within their nest termites share a division of labor such as humans do. They communicate this by passing pheromones and each colony has its own distinct pheromone thus allowing them to know if termites from another colony or their enemy the ant may be attempting to mix within their own colony. by banging their heads against he mud-tube or galleries to create an alert the colony dispatches the soldier cast to defend the nest killing the intruder and walling it off within the nest with fecal matter. If a breach is attempted some termites will plug the hole with mud and saliva or even their heads

West Indian Subterranean​

They are found in South Florida, West Indies. aThese termites forage in soil and do damage structures. This termite is yellowish clear, small with a rectangular to oval shaped head their swarm season is summertime April -September.

West Indian Termite

Light Southern Subterranean

These termites are found in all Florida they nest and forage in soil but are not common in structures. They are white, transparent small in size the soldier cast of this termite is light tan and the alate cast is light yellowish brown. These termites swarm December-April during midday.

Light Southern termite

Eastern Subterranean

These termites are found in all of florida they nest and forage in soil and will damage wood and insulation. these termites worker cast are mostly clear external cuticle the soldier cast is an off white colored termite while the Alate cast is dark brown and large. Eastern subs have a rectangular, orange head they swarm November-April during the morning hours.

Eastern Subterranean

Termites Necessities for survival

For cockroaches survival is dependent on food water and harborages. For termites it is much of the same but dependent on food water and warmth. Food for subterranean termites consist of anything made of or containing cellulose materials, as well the Sub termite requires moisture unlike the drywood termite the sub needs the mud tubes to protect them from the outside environment. Drywood termites get the small amount of moisture needed from the dry woods they consume therefore not having any need to leave the nesting area until the source of food has depleted and the colony will die but not before the swarmers have broken away and formed new colonies as the nest grows over time preventing over population of the nest and thus creating longevity for the nest as well.

Termitidae Family Of Termites

Termitidae Family Of Termites

This termite is found in South central Florida. They nest and forage in soil and are only occasionally found in structures. These guys worker cast are transparent, showing their internal organs, the soldier cast is an off white color and very small while the Alate cast is a dark brown color and small as well with a blackish colored wing. they have they have a bulbous shaped head  and sikle-shaped mandibles. This termite swarms after rain from June -September during the daytime.

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Conehead Termite​

These termites are limited to South Florida, Caribbean. Coneheads nest in trees and soil and forage in soil surface they damage wood and insulation of structures as well as trees. This termite is dark in color, small with a teardrop shaped head and no mandibles. Coneheads swarm April-May during the daytime.  

termite

Kalotermitidae Family Of Termites

Colony Formation (Swarming)

Understanding termite activities is an important aspect to identifying what type of termite is present. The sudden, dramatic appearance of alate termites is commonly referred to as swarming. Termites swarm in an attempt to indicate new colonies at new locations. The success rate of colony establishment via swarming is extremely low, because most alates die shortly after swarming due to predators such as birds and other animals eating them along with other environmental factors at the time of the swarm. Swarming generally occurs when outside temperatures are warm and usually only from mature colonies. After the short fluttering flight the termites wings breat off and they mate up with a male and female to begin excavation of the new site to form the new colony.

Southern Dampwood Termite (neotermes castaneus)​

This termite occurs in south central Florida they like to nest in live trees and forage in wet wood so these termites would infest areas of a home that may have damp basements or crawl spaces as well as wood that may have contact with the ground. They are light Brown in color and a large size with rectangular black mandavils as well as a third antennal segment. southern dampwood termites swarm late fall to early winter July- mid December from dusk to night.​

Dampwood Termite (neotermes jouteli)​

All though this is still a dampwood termite they have some different characteristics this specific one is found in southeast and southwest Florida Coasts. similar to the southern dampwood, they live in trees and forage in and damage wet wood their geographic region is much larger and their swarm season is opposite to their southern dampwood starting in late spring and summer from March until about August also dusk to night.​

Dampwood Termite (Neotermes luykxi)​

These are found In Southeast Florida, Caribbean, South America. They nest in soil and forage in soil they consume wood and insulation (Cellulose materials). The workers are light in color, small yellowish in color with an oval shaped head. These termites swarm February- July Dusk to midnight when there is high humidity.​

Western drywood termite (incisitermes minor)​

This termite encumbrances the entire state of Florida ! they forage within and damage dry woods as the name emplies. this termite is creamy white in color with a reddish brown head and black mandibles as well as a third antennal segment. Drywood termites swarm September to November during midday. Drywoods will swarm to structures and drop their wings with only a few surviving the trip to setup a new colony within a structure.​

Southeastern drywood termite (incisitermes snyderi)​

Yet another termite that covers the entire state of florida. They are found nesting, foraging and damaging STRUCTURAL dry wood specifically! The southeastern drywood is a cream to yellowish large termite swarming from May to August in the evening hours.​

Drywood Termite (Incisitermes milleri) ​

Unlike the other two species of drywood termites these termites are found in the Florida keys nesting and foraging inside drywood but not usually structural drywood so damage to buildings is probably not significant with them. they are similar is visual appearance cream to yellowish in color swarming from may to July during the daytime. they have a long head reddish brown with black mandibles and large teeth on the mandibles used to cut away at the wood.​

Drywood Termite (incisitermes schwarzi)

This species of termite is found on the southern most tip of Florida they nest and forage inside drywood but are rare in structural wood posing little to no threat of building damage.They are a cream to yellowish large termite that swarm during all months except in the winter during evening or night.​

West indian powderpost termite​

These termites are found within the entirety of Florida; coastal and southeast United States. They nest forage and damage furniture and structural dry woods. This termite is a whitish tan in color and large in size with a distinct short head with a bumpy appearance this termite swarms April to July near sunrise or after sunset.​

Tropical smoothe-headed ​

These termites can be found in the peninsular Florida nesting forgaging inside dry woods but they are uncommon in structures. They are a whitish tan and small in size this termite swarms year around but more specifically in the springtime evenings. Tropical termites have a smooth, brown, rectangular head with black mandibles along with a large cavity in the front of the head.​

Drywood Termite (Incisitermes milleri) ​

Yet another non structural threatening drywood termite found in central to northern Florida, southeastern Georgia nesting and foraging inside of dry woods they are light brown in color and small in appearance swarming from March to May.​

Dark southern drywood termite​

This termite can be found in central, western and northern Florida nesting, foraging  in drywood but rare in structures they have a light cream to yellowish color and are small in size with a rectangular head and strong black mandibles. these termites swarm from September to November during the daytime​

Southern Dampwood
Dampwood
Dampwood termite,
Western Drywood
southeastern Drywood
Drywood Termite
Drywood termite
West Indian Powderpost
Tropical smoothe-headed
Drywood termite
Dark southern drywood termite

Don't Let Termites Wreck Your Port Charlotte Property!

Make sure your home is protected from termites by investing in our services!

If you’re not already familiar with termites, they are small, brown creatures that can cause a lot of damage to your property if left untreated. They live in colonies and can eat through wood, paper, and even some metals!

Here at Bug Off Pest, we provide termite protection for homes and businesses in the Port Charlotte area. We have a variety of services to choose from, so you can find the perfect one for your needs. We also offer free inspections, so you can be sure that your property is free from these pests before they cause any damage.

How to prevent termites from invading your home?

Termites are one of the most destructive pests in Florida. If you have termites in your home, it’s important to take steps to prevent them from causing further damage. One way to prevent termites from damaging your home is to keep them out in the first place. Inspect your home regularly for signs of termites, such as mud tubes on the exterior of your home or wood that sounds hollow when tapped.

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