Flying Termites: What they are and can do to your home
Most people know that termites live in large colonies, eat wood, and can spell disaster for their homes. But many may be surprised when they first experience flying termites, as few folks know of or understand these insects. Clouds or swarms of these flying wood-destroying insects all congregating around a bright light might seem off-putting, so it’s helpful to know what those termites are, what they’re doing, and what it means for your home.
What Are Flying Termites?
Flying termites are a certain caste of termites living within a colony. Termite castes in a colony include workers to dig tunnels, soldiers to protect the nest, a queen to lay eggs (and her king), and alates. The alates are the caste we’re discussing here, as they are the only caste in a colony to bear wings and fly.
Reproductive Termites
Flying termites are known as swarmers or alates, and they are the reproductive caste within a colony of subterranean termites or drywood termites. They’re roughly about ⅜-inch long, are generally dark brown in color than workers or soldiers, and have 4 long delicate wings, all of the same size.
And their job is to reproduce.
Termites with wings will assist workers with repairing tunnels, but their main function in the colony is to reproduce. Once a colony gets too large, these alates leave the colony, find a mate, find a new home, and lay their eggs. And how they do so is a spectacle, but we’ll get to that in a bit.
Flying Termites vs. Flying Ants
Many people mistake flying termites for flying ants or carpenter ants with wings (in fact, many folks call termites “white ants“). While flying termites look like flying ants at first glance, telling the two insects apart is actually quite easy if you know what to look for. Side-by-side pictures of flying termites and carpenters will reveal a lot:
- Winged termite bodies are generally one consistent thickness, whereas flying ants have pinched waists with separate abdomen and thoraxes.
- Termites have straight antennae while ants have bent antennae.
- Termites have four wings that are all equal in length, whereas a flying ant has two sets of wings, the first of which are considerably larger than the second.
- Winged ants leave dirt piles around the home, and this indicates there is a nest nearby. Termites dig into wood and can be hard to notice, except for their mud tubes which may give away their presence.
There are a few species of flying ants, and not all of them indicate disaster. However, large black flying ants may be carpenter ant alates, and these wood-destroying insects might have started a termite infestation nearby. However, both flying termites and carpenter ants are bad news for a home.
Why do termites swarm?
Many folks have come home to a cloud of flying insects fluttering around in front of windows, sliding glass doors, and other sources of light. While that might be enough to make your skin crawl, there is a reason why drywood or subterranean termites swarm.
They’re Looking for Mates
A swarm of flying termites indicates that a colony is expanding, and the ones fluttering around the living room, lamp post, or porch light are essentially speed dating. These are male and female alates from termite infestations, and they’re looking to pair up and move out to start a new colony while the wingless termites (the workers, soldiers, and royalty) remain behind with the original, thriving colony.
The swarms usually only last about an hour, after which the alates break off their wings in a pile near a window or door and then head out into the world. So, termites swarm to propagate the species. The male and female will look for suitable soil for a nesting site, excavate that soil to create a small underground chamber, and then mate to raise a colony.
So, termites fly in the name of love and reproduction. It’s actually a little romantic, don’t you think?
Swarms Happen After Heavy Rains
There are some environmental triggers that cause swarms. For one, they mostly happen in the spring and summer, when the humid air is more suitable for termites. Also, swarms typically occur after rain, when the wind is still and the humidity is high.
These conditions allow the flying termites to find mates, break off their wings, and hopefully find moist soil to start a new colony before they dehydrate. If they’re unable, they’ll typically die within 24 hours.
It Means There is a Termite Infestation Nearby
While the thought of alates falling in love at first sight and building an underground chamber to raise their babies may sound like a storybook ending, flying termite swarms are actually an indicator of a very serious problem.
For a nest to produce reproductive adult termites, the colony must be at least 3 years old. What this means is that a colony that produces alates is established and probably quite large.
For this reason, a swarm of flying termites can actually be an indication of a serious termite infestation. If there are alates, the colony is at least 3 years old, and all those worker termites have been hard at work for years, destroying wood and causing a ton of termite damage—over $30 billion in damage nationwide, each year!
Signs That Flying Termites Swarmed
There are some indications that a colony swarmed. It’s worth knowing what those signs are so you’ll know if your home has a termite problem.
Clouds of Termites Around Light Sources
Termite swarmers have poor eyesight, so they’re attracted to bright lights. If there is a cloud of small-bodied insects with large wings flying around a porch light, street light, or another source, they may be flying termites.
Piles of Wings Near Windows and Doors
A telltale sign of termite swarming includes finding piles of broken-off wings near doors and windows. As these mating pairs meet each other, they drop from the air, break their wings off, and head toward the light to get out. In this process, flying termites lose their wings, leaving behind a pile of shed wings, often riddled with the bodies of their dehydrated brethren.
Dead Termites
Many dead termites can be a sign of a swarm, as well. Swarming is hard work and can dehydrate a termite. If those termites don’t find moist soil to start their new termite colonies soon enough, they’ll die from dehydration.
Are Swarms of Flying Termites Dangerous?
If you’re freaking out at just the thought of termite swarms, we get it. You’re probably wondering if these insects can harm you or your family, and that’s the type of thinking we appreciate around here at RiddaBugs. But, we’re here to set your mind at ease.
Flying Termites Don’t Bite
Flying termites don’t bite, so don’t worry about getting stung by a thousand alates. The only termites that have the potential to bite humans are soldiers, and while their mandibles are strong by bug standards, they don’t pose a threat to humans.
Flying Termites Don’t Spread Disease
Another fun fact is that termites don’t spread diseases to humans or pets. While their workers might be busy bringing that gazebo down one wood fiber at a time, the alates probably won’t get anyone sick.
Termite Swarms Are Looking for a New Home, Though
The real danger of the flying termite is that it’s looking for a new home. Winged termites are programmed to reproduce and start new termite colonies. So, that cloud of termite swarmers could easily find its way into your home or your neighbors, starting the process all over again (though it will take a few years for young termite colonies to grow to large numbers).
How To Get Rid of Flying Termites
That flying termite swarm might have you thinking you need to take action, and we understand that mindset. However, these swarms often contain far too many winged termites to do anything about. Here’s what you can do:
Leave Them Alone: Swarmers Die or Leave On Their Own
A flying termite swarm is not the end of the world, in most cases. The majority of the winged termites in a swarm will die within 24 hours. Those that don’t die will likely leave on their own and look for soil. All told, the entire swarming process takes around an hour, and then these insects are in a race against the clock to start new colonies. Otherwise, they die.
As for the rest of the colony, some do-it-yourself termite treatments may be in order, but remember, these are mature colonies.
Call an Exterminator: The Termite Colony is the Real Issue
Winged termites are not the real issue. In fact, it will be a year or two before a new termite colony can even do much damage. However, the termite infestation that these insects sprouted from is the real issue.
Only mature colonies can produce winged termites, which means there may be extensive damage behind the walls. For this reason, we suggest calling a professional pest control company with a proven record of pest control efficacy.
These experts will perform a type of WDI inspection (also known as a wood-destroying insect inspection or simply termite inspection) locate the nest, set up baits to attract termites and poison them, and take other measures to get rid of these destructive bugs before they can start new colonies. A warranty or termite bond can also help provide homeowners with the peace of mind they need.
FAQs
Even with all of that background on flying termites, winged termites, termite swarmers, and a host of other names used to describe these bugs, there may be some additional questions gnawing away at you. The following are some of the most frequently asked questions about winged termites and termite swarms.
Should I worry if I see flying termites?
Yes, you should, but not about the swarm of insects itself. Instead, worry about the colony from which those bugs emerged. If the colony is old enough to produce winged termites, it’s probably already done quite a bit of damage.
What does it mean when you see flying termites?
Termites swarm when they’re looking for mates so they can leave the old colony and start a new one. This is a cycle that propagates the species and makes getting rid of them difficult.
How do you get rid of flying termites?
Flying termites will usually leave or die on their own within 24 hours. However, the colonies from which they emerged are likely established and tough to get rid of. Calling a pest control company like Orkin or Terminix is the best bet.
Why do flying termites mean serious trouble?
Flying termites indicate trouble because it’s a sign that there is a mature termite infestation nearby. For a colony to produce a reproductive alate, it needs to be at least a few years old, giving worker termites all the time they need to damage the home.
Do termites fly?
Some termites fly, and they’re known as alates. Alates are the reproductive members of termite colonies, and they’ll grow wings, fly around for an hour, and look for a mate. If they find the mate, they’ll break off their wings, look for suitable soil, dig a chamber, and mate. If they don’t find a mate, they typically die from dehydration.
