What to Do If You Notice Swarming Termites

If you’re seeing signs of a termite swarm, such as wings, frass, or damaged wood, it’s crucial to take the next steps in getting rid of them. What you need to do if you notice swarming termites is to reach out to the experts in termite extermination.

Whether they’re crawling over surfaces or clouding the sky, termite swarms aren’t necessarily a good sign. Increased humidity, warmer weather, and Florida’s characteristic rainstorms create ideal conditions for these termite swarms. That’s why many infestations are discovered between March and May. Swarms may occur any time of the year, but they’re most common in late spring.

Hometown Pest Control termite control experts are all too familiar with termite infestations and know when and where these destructive are likely to show up around your home. 

What Are Termite Swarms?

Swarms are filled with termite swarmers, a special caste of fertile termites called alates. Their job is to mate and establish new colonies. When the time is right, the winged alates emerge from the ground or cavities in infested wood. They fly briefly to find mates before losing their wings and returning to the ground. If they were successful, the pair will become the king and queen of a new colony.

Swarms may congregate indoors or around your yard. Although termite activity is unavoidable in most areas, it could indicate that a mature colony is active on your property or in your home, so it’s worth investigating while you’re waiting for the exterminators.

When Do Termites Come Out?

Termites typically come out when it’s warmer outside – throughout spring, summer, and fall. It’s a common misconception that termites hibernate or die off during the cooler months, only to rise up when the warmth kicks in. In truth, these pests are active underground all year round. 

For the notorious subterranean termites, spring and summer is prime swarm time. They prefer to wait after a rainy day, when the wind isn’t strong. As for drywood termites, they prefer to wait until the autumn months to swarm. The winter months are too cold for this species, but they aren’t fans of the hot summer months either.

Do Termites Only Come Out at Night?

Subterranean termites come out during the day, loving that midday sun. Drywood termites, however, prefer to come out at night when it’s cooler.

Why Do Termites Swarm at Night?

Night swarmers come out during that time to conserve moisture. Drywood termites are particularly prone to drying out, so they pick a time when the sun’s down, and the air has that evening chill to make their move. 

How to Identify a Termite Swarm

Termites have two sets of equally sized wings, straight antennae, and thick bodies. Because several types of termites are active in Florida, swarms may occur at different times. 

Flying termites are often mistaken for flying ants. Flying ants and termite alates are quite similar at first glance, and they’re active at the same time of the year. Flying ants have a set of large and small wings, elbowed antennae, and well-defined waists. 

These are the different termite species that swarm:

• 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. Unlike other types, their heads and bodies are orange or golden-brown.

Types of Termites With Wings in Florida

Within a termite colony, the types of termites with wings include the alates, which are reproductive termites. In the termite life cycle, after the larvae and nymph stage, a termite will become a worker, soldier, or reproductive termite (alate). Only these alates will grow wings so they can swarm and continue the life cycle.

Protect Your Property from Termite Swarms with Hometown Pest Control

If you’ve seen swarmers or piles of dropped wings around your property, that’s a clear sign of termites, and it’s time to act. Outdoor swarms do not necessarily indicate that your house is infested, but you should have it inspected by Hometown Pest Control experts. Our extermination team has the expertise and tools to identify, treat, and prevent any type of termite infestation.

We also offer tent fumigation for indoor termite infestations, which is the best option for eliminating all termites within the structure. 
For assistance managing termite swarms, contact Hometown Pest Control to schedule an inspection or to learn more about our treatment options!