Three termite species, three different swarming windows
Most homeowners think "termite swarm" is one thing. In Palm Beach County it's actually three different events, each from a different species, each on a different timeline. Knowing which one you're dealing with shapes the entire treatment approach.
Per UF/IFAS Extension's published termite research, here's the breakdown:
Eastern subterranean termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)
When: February through May, peak in March–April.
Time of day: Mostly afternoon, after warm rain.
Where you'll see them: Around the foundation perimeter, mulch beds, and tree stumps. They're soil-borne, so swarms emerge from the ground.
What it means: An active colony within ~⅓ mile, often in your yard. Treatable with a soil-applied Termidor SC barrier per UF/IFAS-validated protocol.
Drywood termite (Cryptotermes brevis and others)
When: April through July, peak in May–June.
Time of day: Evening, often around outdoor lights.
Where you'll see them: Inside the house — attic, window frames, hollow doors, wood furniture. Drywood termites live entirely inside the wood they eat.
What it means: An active colony in your house's wood members. Our treatment is targeted Termidor injection or borate-based wood treatment — no tarps, no displacement.
Formosan termite (Coptotermes formosanus)
When: April through July, peak in late May–early June.
Time of day: Evening, drawn to lights — often dramatic clouds around streetlights.
Where you'll see them: Anywhere with structural wood. Formosans are subterranean but can also live in above-ground "carton nests" inside walls without contacting soil.
What it means: A serious infestation. Formosans are the most destructive termite in the southeastern US per UF/IFAS — a single colony can damage a structure in 6 months.
Why South Florida is a swarming hotspot
Three factors stack to make Palm Beach County one of the highest-pressure termite zones in the continental US:
- Climate: Year-round temperatures above 50°F mean termite colonies never enter dormancy. Per UF/IFAS, mature colonies in our climate produce alates 2–3 times longer than colonies in northern Florida.
- Soil moisture: The shallow water table across most of PBC means soil never fully dries — ideal for subterranean species.
- Construction history: Pre-1995 wood-frame and stick-built construction dominates older Florida neighborhoods (Lake Ida in Delray Beach, Grandview Heights in West Palm Beach, Old Floresta in Boca Raton). Pre-WWII heart-pine framing is among the most cellulose-attractant lumber in continental US construction.
Does a swarm mean your house is infested?
Not necessarily — but it shifts the burden of proof. Alates (the winged reproductive caste) can fly up to a mile from their parent colony before dropping to the ground, shedding their wings, finding a mate, and starting a new colony. A swarm at your house means there's an active colony within roughly that radius. Possibly yours. Possibly a neighbor's. Possibly a nearby tree stump.
Two visual cues that the colony is in your house, not nearby:
- Indoor swarming. If alates are emerging from inside walls, ceiling fixtures, or window frames, the colony is in the structure.
- Discarded wings on windowsills. Alates lose wings shortly after their flight. Piles of small (~⅜ inch), translucent wings on indoor windowsills point to indoor emergence.
Either of those = call a pest control company that uses radar inspection, not just visual. TermTrak scanner radar can detect termite activity through plasterboard, foam, marble, tile, plastic, and timber without cutting walls.
What to do if you see a swarm: the 3-step response
This is the protocol we walk every customer through when they call about a swarm. It's also what UF/IFAS Extension publishes in their homeowner termite guide:
Step 1: Save samples for species ID
Pick up 4–5 dead alates and seal them in a plastic sandwich bag. Don't crush them — your pest control tech needs to see wing venation, body color, and antenna structure to ID the species. The species determines the treatment, so this is the single most useful thing you can do.
Step 2: Vacuum the rest. Do not spray.
This is where most homeowners go wrong. Pyrethrin-based sprays (Raid, etc.) are repellent — they push termites away from the spray zone but don't kill the colony. The result: alates scatter, hide in wall voids, and the colony continues unimpeded somewhere else in the house. Vacuum the visible swarm, empty the canister into a sealed bag, and trash it.
Step 3: Call within 48 hours for inspection
Termite damage compounds. A 6-month delay between swarm and treatment can mean the difference between $1,200 in spot treatment and $8,000 in whole-structure work. Our average swarm-call response in PBC is same-day; we book a free inspection within 24 hours.
What treatment looks like, by species
Treatment is species-specific. The wrong treatment for the wrong species is wasted money:
- Subterranean (most common in PBC) → Soil-applied Termidor SC creates a chemical barrier per UF/IFAS field trials lasting 8–10 years. In-ground bait stations are an alternative for properties where soil treatment is restricted.
- Drywood, localized → Spot treatment with Termidor injection or borate-based wood treatment. Targeted and minimally invasive — no tarps required.
- Formosan → Aggressive combination treatment — Termidor SC soil barrier + in-ground bait stations + targeted wall injections. FDACS requires documented Formosan-specific protocols.
Local context: where PBC sees the most swarms
Twenty-six years of in-county work has made the geography clear. The pre-WWII historic neighborhoods see the highest subterranean pressure — heart-pine framing, original soil with no chemical history. Newer coastal-condo construction (Boca, Highland Beach, Singer Island) sees drywood as the primary species. Formosan presence has been spreading north from Broward over the last decade and is now documented in southern PBC per FDACS pest alerts.
If you're in Lake Worth Beach, Delray, West Palm Beach, or Lantana and you're in a pre-1960 home, baseline annual termite inspection isn't optional — it's the cheapest insurance you can buy.
FAQ
I saw flying ants, not termites — how do I tell?
How long do swarming events last?
Do swarms happen at the same time every year?
Should I get a termite warranty before buying a home?
Sources cited: UF/IFAS Extension — Termites topic · UF/IFAS Extension homepage · Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services