What are Termite Swarmers?
Termite swarmers are termites that are designated to fly away from the colony and spread the colony to new places. These termites are only capable of spreading the colony and can not cause any damage to your home; it’s their children, the worker termites that will eat and destroy the wood in your home. Don't worry! PestGuard Solutions is always on Guard to help protect your home or business with termite treatments and Bonded Lifetime Termite Protection.
These reproductive termites have a small pair of wings that give them the ability to fly. However, these insects cannot fly very well and often use the wind to carry them long distances. The reason that they are not good flyers is because their two pairs of wings are both of equal length. Insects such as flying ants also have two pairs of wings but the anterior pair are longer than the posterior pair making them more aerodynamic.
Flying Ants vs Flying Termites
A big misconception about swarming termites is that they are confused by flying ants or ant swarmers.
Here are four simple ways that you can tell these species apart:
1. Ants have bent antennas and termites have straight antennas.
2. Ants are sectioned into three body parts while swarming termites have only two body parts.
3. The abdomen of an ant is very thin while that of a termite is thick.
4. As mentioned earlier, the wings of an aunt are not equal length while the wings of a swarmer termite are.
Where Can You Find Termite Swarmers?
Now that you know how to identify these insects, I will now tell you where to look for them. If you find these insects on the outside of your home or on trees around your home you may not be in much trouble. Because these swarmers cannot fly very well, they are often blown by the wind onto the exterior of your house or onto neighboring trees and plants. If you find these bugs in these locations, generally you will have no problem.
However, if you find a swarmer leaving from the structure of a window, door, porch columns, or any wood structure, then you should contact a professional pest control service. Once inside these structures, swarmers have the ability to mate and begin reproducing working termites which will begin to cause damage to your home. Finding only a couple of swarmers inside your home may only be coincidence. However, if you begin seeing many, than more than likely this indicates that a colony has formed somewhere in or near your home. The quicker you take care of the problem, the less damage will be done to your home.
Termite Pre-Treatments
If you are building a new home, termite pre-treatment options can work to prevent a future termite invasion. The termite pre-treatment may include the use of physical barriers, liquid barriers, bait systems, or other products. We will evaluate your property to determine the pre-treatment option that is right for your needs.
THE TERMITE SWARM SEASON
Termites require moisture to live, without it their bodies would dry out and they would die. So mature termite colonies tend to produce and send out termite swarmers in the wet spring and fall months. During this time it is quite common to see them out in swarms, flying around, after a rain storm; since this give them the best change of surviving and starting a new colony.
One interesting thing to note, is that these flying swarms of termites seem to be attracted to light, and they will fly around in a swarm around outside lights and light sources. It can actually be quite a sight to see a large swarm of termites buzzing around together (as long as its not your house they are swarming around).
For more information on Termite Control and ways to protect your house please visit our Termite Treatment section of our website or call 864.616.6308 today.