Thin mud tubes running up the slab or the garage wall

Why it will not stop on its own

The tube is a highway, not a nest. The colony is in the soil. Scraping the tube off breaks one route; the termites build another.

Florida slabs give them hidden routes. On slab-on-grade houses, termites can come up through cracks, expansion joints and where plumbing passes through the concrete — often inside a wall or behind a baseboard, where nobody looks.

Both subterranean types make tubes. Native subterranean termites and Formosans are both found in Florida, and both are treated at the soil line.

What the visit involves

The inspector follows the tube to where it starts and ends, checks the slab edge around the house, the garage, bathrooms and any wood near the ground, and looks for damage. Then the questions are which species, how much wood is involved, and which treatment — liquid at the foundation or a bait system.

What to say when you call

• Where the tube is and how long
• Whether it is dry and crumbly or fresh and damp
• Whether you have seen swarmers this year
• Whether the house has a termite contract, and with whom

Common questions

Should I break the tube open? A small break shows whether it is active — live termites inside, or a repair within days. Do not scrape the whole thing off before the inspection.

Is the house in danger? Damage builds over time, not overnight. It is a reason to book an inspection soon, not to panic.

We have a contract. Who do I call? The company on the contract first — retreatment conditions are in it.