Subterranean termites are active all year round and the swarmers start coming out when the temperatures outside get to the low to mid-70’s. Flying termites are known as termite swarmers. Seeing these winged termites around your home is a big concern. Termite swarming happens every spring and should be no surprise. Typically, the season for termites is from March through May and in Florida it happens as early as February on occasion. You will often see these swarms early in the afternoon and most likely following a light rain. The swarming occurs when termites leave the colony looking for a new home. You don’t want this new home to be yours! Swarms are a sure sign that you’re dealing with termites along with mud tubes found near the foundation of your home that are tunnels they use to move between their colony and the source of wood they have found in your home.
What Do Subterranean Termite Swarmers Look Like
Other factors that lead to swarming is the maturity of a colony. Subterranean termite colonies will usually produce a swarm when the colony is about three years old. When this happens, alate nymphs will develop that have wings and will fly away from the colony looking for a mate and a new location to start a colony. When the wings fall off, the pair will mate and the female will become the queen. She can lay a million eggs over that span of her life! They can be a range of different colors but generally a beige or tan color. They have two antennae that are straight with a slight curve and two sets of wings that are the same length. The wings are white to translucent in color with a veiny appearance. They have a thick body made of one part. It’s important to not dismiss termites as white ants, however, termites differ greatly from ants in terms of appearance, diet and other characteristics. It’s important to call a professional for proper identification because it can be hard for even the untrained eye to make the distinction. Termite nests can be established above and below ground to gain access to your home leading to very expensive damage. Swarming termites are only a small portion of the problem, so all the termites need to be exterminated. Extermination will deal with the flying termites and will reduce and limit the spread along with the potential for future termite colonies in and around your home.
Termite Inspection & Treatment
It is imperative to hire professionals when eradicating termites because they are elusive and very hard to find. Those that attempt to do it on their own risk of making the infestation worse or having the infestation return. Using professionals ensures that your termite problems will be taken care of correctly. Warm weather means you might have silent destroyers infesting your home that could end up costing you a lot of money. The damage can continue for many years while they stay hidden and eating away at the structure of your home 24/7 without ever taking a break. If you’re worried about termites, contact Southeast Pest Control to get the upper hand and keep your home safe from these pests. Call us today!