How Much Do Eastern Subterranean Termites Eat in Florida?

The Feeding of Eastern Subterranean Termites

Eastern Subterranean Termites are small insects, measuring about 1/8 inch in length, but their colonies can contain millions of members. These termites consume cellulose, which is found in wood, paper, and other plant-based materials. Because they live in underground colonies and travel through mud tubes to find food, they can go undetected for months—or even years—while steadily destroying wooden structures.

How Much Can They Eat?

Individual Termite Consumption: A single Eastern Subterranean Termite eats only a portion of an ounce of wood each day. However, because they live in massive colonies, the total damage can be severe.

Colony Consumption: A large colony of around 1 to 5 million termites can consume approximately 1 pound of wood per day under ideal conditions.

Annual Damage: Over a year, a single colony can eat over 300lbs of wood per year under ideal conditions. This is enough to cause serious structural damage to homes, fences, decks and trees if left untreated.

If you suspect you have termites in your home or want to take preventative measures we offer comprehensive termite inspections, treatments and prevention strategies!