08/19/2026
Central Florida homeowners: those thin, muddy lines running up your foundation aren't just dirt β they're one of the clearest warning signs of termites. π
Subterranean termites are the most destructive pest in Florida, and our year-round warmth and humidity keep them active in every season. Because they need constant moisture, they travel up from the soil to the wood in your home through pencil-width "mud tubes" they build along foundations, slab edges, piers, and interior walls. Finding one usually means a colony is actively foraging nearby.
Here's a simple test the pros use: break away a small section of the tube and check back in two or three days. If it has been rebuilt, the colony is alive and heading toward your home. If it stays broken and crumbly, it may be older activity β but it's still worth a professional inspection.
Other signs worth watching for:
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Discarded wings near windowsills or doors after a swarm
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Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or gives way easily
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Bubbling, uneven paint or floors that feel soft and spongy
The catch with DIY: store-bought sprays only reach the termites you can see, never the nest underground, so the colony keeps feeding. Professional treatment is built to target the entire colony. If you've spotted mud tubes or swarmers, ABC's Orlando termite control team can inspect, confirm the activity, and stop it before it turns into thousands of dollars in damage.