Peak swarming periods occur January through May in Florida although they may swarm to a lesser extent during other months. Winged termites can be distinguished from winged ants because termites have a thick waist whereas ants have a distinctly thin or wasp-like waist. Termite wings break off shortly after they swarm and since they are attracted to light at this stage, their discarded wings are often found on window sills. Drywood termites unlike subterraneans excrete pellets of partly digested wood. The pellets are pushed from the galleries and found on surfaces beneath the infested wood.
Infestations are most common in the attic or in window frames and sills.
A sign of advanced infestation is surface blisters. These termites sometimes tunnel close to the surface giving the wood a blistered appearance. Infestations may be detected by tapping the wood every few inches with the handle of a screwdriver. Damaged wood sounds hollow - a papery rustle sound indicates tunnels just beneath the surface. Preventive Measures Used lumber, furniture and other wooden articles especially from coastal areas in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas should be carefully inspected for termite infestations.