How to identify it
- Winged swarmers are reddish brown and 8.5 to 10.5 mm long with wings, about the size of West Indian drywood termite swarmers.[1]
- Unlike drywood termites, the swarmer's forewing has two unbranched veins along its leading edge.[1]
- Soldiers resemble Formosan termite soldiers but have a tiny opening on top of the head instead of a large forward one.[1]
Look-alikes
| Look-alike | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| West Indian drywood termite | Its swarmers are a similar size, but the Cuban subterranean termite's forewing has two unbranched veins along the leading edge.[1] |
| Formosan subterranean termite | Soldiers look similar from above, but Formosan soldiers have a large head opening that faces forward.[1] |
Where it lives
It lives on Florida's southeast coast from the Florida Keys north to the island of Palm Beach, up to 7 miles inland in Dade and Broward Counties, often near waterways.[1]
Biology and life cycle
Swarming flights in southeast Florida run from September to February, peaking in November and December, at dusk or at night.[1]
Swarmers are attracted to lights and video screens.[1]
Soldiers release a clear defensive secretion that's toxic to ants and other termites.[1]
Damage and signs
- Colonies occur in urban settings as well as woodlands and mangroves, and flight tubes can appear in the wall voids of infested buildings.[1]
Health risk
Termites don't bite or sting people; UF/IFAS mentions no health risk.[1]
Control
When to call a professional
Because it forages over a limited range, it can be controlled with residual treatments in wall voids where flight tubes appear and around the nearby foundation.[1]
Termite baits may work, but there are no data on their use against this species.[1]
Common questions
- What termites swarm at night around lights in South Florida in winter?
- Cuban subterranean termites fly from September to February, peaking in November and December, and are drawn to lights.[1]
- How is the Cuban subterranean termite different from drywood termites?
- Swarmers are a similar size, but its forewing has two unbranched veins along the leading edge.[1]
Sources
- University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Cuban Subterranean Termite, Prorhinotermes simplex (EENY-282).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN558 (accessed 2026-10-06)
- iNaturalist, “Prorhinotermes simplex taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1359442 (accessed 2026-10-06)