Do termites swarm and then leave?
Why Do Termites Swarm? Termites swarm when the reproductive termites leave the colony to find mates. If you find a termite swarm near your home or on your property, it usually means there is an established colony somewhere close. They are leaving to form new colonies.
What happens to termites after they swarm?
The aftermath of a swarm will usually consist of dead termite swarmers or their discarded wings on window sills, countertops, or around furniture. In most cases, you'll never see the termites themselves, just any damage they may cause when they create a colony in your home.
How far do swarming termites travel?
How far do termite swarms travel? Not very far! If a swarm catches a strong wind, it may go a few miles, but more often they will only travel a few hundred yards from their original nest.
Do termite swarms go away?
Typically, termites swarm during the late winter and early spring months, most often on warm days following rain. Whether indoors or outside, termite swarms generally last between 30-40 minutes. Since termites are attracted to light sources, seeing swarms around glass doors or windows is not uncommon.
How do you know if termites are gone?
Evidence of Past Termite Damage First, if you don't spot any swarmers or live termites, there's likely no current termite activity. Secondly, if you notice mud tubes and break off a section that remains unrepaired after a few days, you have an inactive termite infestation.
Do termites return to the same spot?
Even after fumigation, termites can still find a way into your home again, if a barrier is not created to discourage re-entry. In addition, termite protection is an ongoing process because continued maintenance and treatments might be required to keep these pests out of your property.
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.
Should I worry about swarming termites?
Because termite swarms indicate that a current colony is flourishing nearby, it's important to inspect your home and property if you see a swarm close to your home. If you think you may have termite activity, be sure to call an Orkin termite control specialist for a free inspection as soon as possible.
Does rain make termites go away?
Not only do rainstorms drive flying termites to mate during warm weather, moisture from rain also contributes to water damage in homes, thus attracting termites and other pests. In addition, rain can make getting rid of stubborn termite infestations even more difficult.
What is the fastest way to get rid of termites?
Some of the best ways to get rid of termites is to apply termite-killing products to your home's exterior, use direct chemicals on the inside of your home, set up termite baits, and spray boric acid in your floors and walls.
How many times does a termite colony swarm?
Termites Swarm Once a Year. Our last termite fact has to do with swarming. It's a common myth about termites that they swarm multiple times a year. The reality is that they only swarm once a year, typically in the spring when the temperatures start to hit 70 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
What does it mean when you find dead termites?
In most cases, the termite swarmers simply die if they cannot escape from your house. They may be attracted to light and die on window sills or open areas. Quite often you will only find dead insects or just the wings as seen in the picture to the right.
Do termites lose their wings after they swarm?
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.
What does it mean when you find dead termites?
In most cases, the termite swarmers simply die if they cannot escape from your house. They may be attracted to light and die on window sills or open areas. Quite often you will only find dead insects or just the wings as seen in the picture to the right.
What happens when termites lose their wings?
Once they take flight, they typically only remain aloft for no longer than an hour. After that, their wings fall off, they plummet to the ground, and then they perish due to exposure or other termite-eating critters.
Do termite swarmers mean you have termites?
While the presence of termite swarmers doesn't necessarily mean that you have an active termite infestation in your home, it could be the first warning sign. If you see a termite swarm, it's important that you call a licensed termite exterminator immediately.
What is a swarm of termites?
A “swarm” is a dispersal flight of the winged termites. The termite swarm happens fast, with a large number of swarming termites, making it an unforgettable experience if it happens in your house. The fact is, swarming termites do not bite, they will not harm you, or damage your belongings, but, it is no doubt unpleasant.
How do termites come out?
They can also come out though holes in the soil in your yard. They emerge through swarm tubes made by worker termites. Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony. A lot of them die from environmental conditions, or get eaten by predators like birds or other insects. Natural mating swarms usually occur during the spring when the weather gets warmer and we have more rain. They sometimes start swarming earlier if their food and/or water supplies run out.
How to tell if there is a termite colony?
If you are a witness to hundreds of swarming termites outside, turn off all exterior lighting to avoid attracting them to your home. This is an indication that there is a termite colony nearby, somewhere in your yard. If you find swarming termites inside your house then you have an infestation. Don’t panic! Swarms last approximately a half an hour, they may occur often during the next several days, and then they will stop. Don’t be fooled when it stops though because it’s not over. The swarmers may have finished mating but then they immediately begin developing new generations of termites in new nests in and around your homes. If you don’t fix the problem, you are ignoring the damage they are doing behind your walls and you will meet new swarmers next year.
Why is it important to collect termites?
Collecting specimens is important in order for the professionals to ensure that the insects are in fact termites and for them to treat your home or yard appropriately. As we’ve already established, reproducing termites create the swarm, but they do this to mate and create more worker termites which will continually eat wood all year. By having semi-annual termite inspections, you can avoid this problem all together. A pest control professional will inspect and identify any termite activity that you may have, treat any affected areas and prevent this from happening to you.
Why do termites fly out of their hive?
Unlike swarming killer bees that rush out of their hive to defend it and attack aggressively, swarming termites fly out because they want to mate and find new homes. Certain environmental conditions trigger winged termites to fly from their nest, find a mate, go find new nesting location, lay eggs and create a new colony.
Do termites survive?
Unfortunately for them, not every termite survives to form a new colony. A lot of them die from environmental conditions, or get eaten by predators like birds or other insects. Natural mating swarms usually occur during the spring when the weather gets warmer and we have more rain.
Can you use a vacuum cleaner to kill termites?
You can also use a vacuum cleaner to suck up the termites while they are swarming although you definitely won’t get all of them. If it is possible, make sure to note the exact locations from which the winged swarming termites first emerged.
When Do Termites Swarm?
Termites typically swarm in the spring, often during the rainier parts of the year or shortly after it ends, when the weather is warm and humid. Depending on which region of the country you live in, the exact time of year when local termites swarm may vary, but for most regions in the U.S., termites’ reproductive activity generally takes place in mid- to late spring.
What is a swarm termite?
As we’ve already mentioned, swarms are actually a part of the termite life cycle; they occur when a termite colony has grown large enough that it’s time to reproduce and divide into new colonies. The reproductive termites that mate and lay eggs will then establish a new colony, and the female reproductive will become that colony’s queen.
What are the two types of termites that live in the United States?
There are two common types of termites that live in the United States, and they cause differing levels of damage to homes and other structures: subterranean and drywood termites.
How to keep termites away from my house?
There are several tactics that homeowners can employ to keep termites away from their homes and other areas around their property: 1 Keep all fences and other structures on your property in good shape. If you have a shed, fence or other structure that is rotting or in disrepair, fix or remove it to discourage termites from moving in. 2 Keep dead trees, logs and other brush cleared from your property, or at the very least, keep them well away from your home and garage. 3 If you build a new fence, pergola, deck or any other outdoor structure, use treated wood, which is made with chemicals that repel termites. 4 If you are building or rebuilding any portion of your home, have metal shields installed along the foundation to serve as a barrier between your home and any soil-dwelling subterranean termite colonies. 5 Hire a trained termite specialist to come to your home on an annual basis to inspect all structures along with your yard and trees. ABC’s pest control specialists are trained to identify signs of an active termite colony, so it can be treated and eliminated before any damage occurs or spreads.
What are the jobs of termites?
Their jobs are to gather food for the colony, to build more tunnels and chambers and to care for termite eggs and baby nymphs.
How do you know if you have termites?
When termites swarm in order to reproduce, they shed their wings before they mate and then move on to a new colony. If you spot a pile of small insect wings, often on a windowsill or near a baseboard inside your home, that’s a sure sign that you have a termite infestation—a colony of thousands of termites living inside your walls. Cracks in the walls near light fixtures are another place where you might see termite activity that signals the presence of a colony nearby.
How do termites affect the life cycle?
A termite colony can cause extensive damage that costs a lot of money to repair. In order to understand termite swarms and their impact, it’s important first to understand the termite life cycle. Each termite colony has a queen that lays many thousands of eggs during her life cycle. The eggs hatch into nymphs.
Why do termites swarm?
The purpose of swarming is for termites to reproduce and create new colonies near food sources. Like ants, termites are very social creatures that thrive in a colony. Young termites develop wings in the springtime in order to disperse from their parent colonies in swarms. These “swarmers,” or “alates” fly through mud tubes in the case of subterranean termites, or through the air in cases of drywood termites. Though they don’t fly for long, the swarms are usually carried along on a breeze until they reach the ground. Once they touch back down, the insects can establish new colonies. Colonies usually swarm only once per year, though in some cases, multiple swarms may occur. When multiple swarms occur in a season, they are generally smaller swarms than the first occurrence.
Where do termites live?
Subterranean termites live in the ground, and their damage starts there too. If you have a subterranean termite infestation in your home, the first place you should check for damage is the parts of your house that are closest to the ground--especially the crawlspaces. Damaged wood structures in your crawl space along with visible mud tubes along walls and other structures in the vicinity.
How to check for drywood termites?
To check for this termite species, inspect your roof or attic for signs of termites burrowing into the wood, like small holes in wooden surfaces. Any wood surfaces that are directly exposed to the outdoors are particularly at risk of infestation and eventual damage.
How do you know if a drywood termite is infesting the ground?
Drywood termites are identified by the fact that they nest in the very wood that they are infesting, instead of in the ground. These insects can arrive from the air and infest structures without leaving any evidence like mud tubes behind, and without requiring ground contact with a surface. In general, drywood termites swarm in the evening, and require far less moisture than their subterranean counterparts.
How to tell if a termite is a flying ant?
Here’s how to tell the difference between termite swarmers and flying ants: 1 Antennae : Termites have straight antennae while the antennae of ants are bent. 2 Wing structure: Termite wings will be of identical length, while ant wing length varies. 3 Body : Ants have a pinched waist, while termite waists are more straight.
Why do termites have mud tubes?
Unlike their drywood termite counterparts, subterranean termites create mud tubes to protect them from dehydration and predators when they travel. These mud tubes are usually visible on the sides of buildings, trees and other wooden structures that the termites are infesting.
How do termite bait stations work?
Baiting stations: Termite baiting stations work by attracting termites to a bait source several feet from your exterior wall. If you check the bait and it has been destroyed, you know there is likely a termite colony nearby.
Post-Treatment Swarming
Swarming termites, also known as alates, are mature termites seeking mates. They do not eat wood, unlike their destructive worker counterparts. The presence of these flying reproductives indicates nearby colonies and can be a nuisance if they swarm indoors.
Why Do Termites Swarm?
Alates begin as nymphs and develop wings over time. These termites leave the nest during spring, usually following rain because the pests need moisture to survive. Reproductives will pair with mates, lose their wings, and begin new colonies.
Was the Treatment Effective?
Post-treatment termite swarms are not uncommon and may occur up to around four weeks after an effective treatment. The goal of termiticide use is to create mortality among the workers and the other caste members of the termite colony, weaken the colony, and eventually eliminate it.
What Should Homeowners Do?
Swarming termites will lose their wings and die if they cannot escape homes. This is not necessarily a sign of failed treatment, but individuals should contact local pest control experts for more information and a further explanation should they encounter post-treatment swarming.
Where do termites make their nests?
Termites make nests, or colonies, inside the structure that they infest.
What to expect after a termite inspection?
After the inspection, a reliable termite exterminator will give you a twofold report. That report will explicitly mention the extent of damages and your home areas that are under threat. It’s, of course, if they can detect termite infestation. Suppose the exterminator finds early signs of termites making a comeback.
How Long Do Termites Live After Treatment?
Termite treatment, when done thoroughly by an experienced termite exterminator and with proper post-treatment inspection, can easily last for 4-5 years.
What is fumigation tenting?
Fumigation or tenting is a process of injecting pesticides inside your home’s structure to kill drywood termites.
How long do termites live?
Once through with the treatment, termites can live for a day or two before they start to die.
Can an exterminator treat termites?
The exterminator can administer the proper treatment only if he has zeroed in on the type of termite and infestation level.
Is drywood termite subterranean?
They’re either subterranean termites or drywood termites. In some cases, both.
How long do termites swarm?
Call a professional when you see a termite swarm. Even though they usually last only a few days, it is important for an inspector to see what is going on. He/she can search the home for more termites and possible other wood-destroying organisms.
Why do termites swarm after rain?
This is because wet soil helps these swarmers build their nests , and they thrive in a more humid climate.
How many swarmers are there in a termite colony?
This behavior is repeated throughout other termite colonies in the area. There can be hundreds if not thousands of swarmers for each colony!
Why do alates fly away?
Alates main purpose in life is to reproduce in order to grow the original colony. These busy termites reside in the soil near the surface of their nest until the perfect conditions are just right to fly away and look for a new home. When conditions are right, the swarmers fly away to pair off with a mate.
How many species of termites are there in Florida?
So it’s good to know when to look out for termites. Across Florida, there are over twenty species, but the most popular types of termites that swarm are:
How long does it take for a swarm of swarms to spread out?
Each swarm is typically spread out over a few days, with the largest release on the first day, and smaller ones on the days following.
When is termite awareness week?
Actually, the week of March 7th to the 13th is Termite Awareness Week.
