What's The Problem With Termite Swarmers? While there's nothing wrong with seeing a termite swarmer, the problem lies in the fact that termites are close by. Every year, termites cause Americans millions of dollars in property damage. Because termites chew through wood, they cause structural damage.

Do swarming termites mean infestation?

Do Swarming Termites Mean An Infestation? If a swarm happens inside your home, most of them will not survive to establish a new colony but it does mean that your home is likely infested.

Do termite swarmers mean you have termites?

Finding one, two, or even a dozen termite swarmers in your house does not mean you have a termite infestation. These insects probably blew in through an open door. Termite swarmers are adapted to mate and begin new colonies in exterior wood, particularly wood that is weathered, cracked, or unfinished.

Should I worry about swarming termites?

Spoiler alert: If the swarm is inside your home, don't panic. Think of this as the termites tipping you off to their presence, providing you with the perfect opportunity to contact your pest management professional, pronto! A termite swarm occurs when a colony has reached capacity and needs to build a new one.

Are swarming termites a problem?

Swarming is a natural occurrence that happens when a subterranean termite colony grows to a “mature” size. Seeing these massive flying termite swarms can be quite terrifying to some people, when in reality the swarmers do not cause any structural damage.

What Are Termite Swarmers?

19 related questions found

Why flying termites mean serious trouble?

Why does flying termites mean serious trouble? Flying termites are a warning sign of potential damage to property. Termites cause structural damage to properties and thereby making the wooden structure bend and blister. Termite colonies usually mature in about three to six years and produce alates.

How long do termite swarmers live?

How Long Do Their Swarms Last? A termite swarm typically lasts between 30 and 40 minutes and involves the termites swarming around a light source like windows or glass doors. If they don't find soil, they'll die within a few hours.

What to do when you see termites swarming?

DO:

1. Try to contain them. This can be done by shutting the door to the room that they are swarming in. ...
2. Vacuum them up and throw the full bag into the garbage. The swarmers in the bag will die and they can not spread.
3. Save a bag full of insects to show a trained inspector.
4. Call a reputable termite company.

Do swarming termites lose their wings?

It's important to note that when swarmers do find the perfect place to settle down, they will lose their wings. So, if you start noticing these swarming termites in or around your home, or if you are seeing discarded wings, you should be concerned. ... Our termite control process is highly effective.

How do I stop swarming termites?

During swarming season, keep doors and windows shut as much as possible. Keep outdoor lights turned off at night also as they will attract swarming termites. Keep firewood stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated off the ground. Keep plants a few feet away from your home.

Do termite swarmers eat wood?

The swarming termites will drop and die in a short period of time. You may vacuum them up or you can save some in a bag for our company to inspect. They do not eat wood, bite, or sting, they are simply a nuisance. Fortunately swarmers are not capable of constructing mud tubes or causing structural damage to wood.

How long do termites live after they lose their wings?

The differences in these insects' roles comes into clearer focus when consider their lifespans. Workers and soldiers live for a year or two, while flying termites typically die soon after their first flight. However, by some estimates, a termite queen can survive for decades.

Why are termites swarming in my house?

Why Do Termites Swarm? Termites swarm after their original colony has reached a certain capacity level and is ready to expand. For most colonies, this happens once a year. Hundreds or even thousands of swarmers, called alates, are produced with the sole purpose of reproduction and expansion.

Are termite swarmers attracted to light?

Attraction to Light

Some species of termites swarm late in the afternoon and early evening. Like most nocturnal insects, the pests will be drawn to light sources around the home, such as porch lamps, motion lights, and light reflected from inside. It is common to see swarms of alates around utility lights, as well.

What months do termites swarm?

Most species of subterranean termites swarm during the spring and summer months, typically on a warm day with calm winds after a rainfall. Drywood termites and one particular species of subterranean termite (R. hageni) typically swarm during the late summer or fall months, from August through November.

How do you find a termite nest?

What to Look For. Pencil-thick to inch-wide tunnels on foundation and crawl-space walls (above) shelter subterranean termites traveling to and from the nest. If you see cream-colored insects when you break open the tubes, your house is infested. If you don't, the colony may be dead or using another route inside.

What can be mistaken for termites?

The insects most commonly confused for termites are flying ants. The most common species of ants to take flight around your house are carpenter ants, but they're by no means the only ones. Other would-be imposters include moisture ants, black garden ants and pavement ants.

Are flying termites a problem?

The actual swarmers themselves do not cause damage. It is their off-spring, which have the power to damage your property once they land back on solid ground and search for a suitable location to start a new colony. If they are successful within two years they can begin causing significant damage to your home.

How toxic is termite fumigation?

Health Effects of Tenting

Sulfuryl fluoride is a central nervous system depressant, and is highly toxic to humans, animals and plants. While remaining in the home during termite tenting means certain death for animals, humans and plants, sulfuryl fluoride rapidly dissipates once the tent is removed from the home.

How many times will termites swarm?

After some time in their current home, termites will reach a point in which the colony has grown to full capacity and it is time to expand and create a new colony. This stage is called swarming. A swarm usually takes place once a year when weather conditions are optimal.

How do you tell if termites are in your walls?

Common signs of termite damage to a wall include:

1. Small pin holes, where termites have eaten through the paper coating on drywall and/or wallpaper. ...
2. Faint 'lines' on drywall. ...
3. A hollow sound when you tap on the wall.
4. Bubbling or peeling paint.
5. Baseboards that crumble under slight pressure.
6. Jammed doors or windows.

What is a swarmer termite?

During certain cycles of the year, termite colonies produce “swarmers.” These are the winged adult reproductives that leave their current residence to form their own colonies.

Do termites swarm at night?

Subterranean termites swarm during the day, particularly after rainfall. They're most active in the spring. Invasive Formosan termites swarm at night and are generally at their peak in the late spring and summer. Drywood termites are also active at night, especially around lights.

Are termites black with wings?

Winged termites are dark brown or black. These are the termites you are likely to see and inspect. Worker termites do not have wings, but still have the same antennae.