Flying termites, also called termite swarmers, are winged reproductive adults that leave their colony to mate. They sure know how to be a nuisance, gathering around light sources and leaving their wings behind in our homes during the swarming season. But what should you know about flying termites?
Well, here you’ll find all relevant information about these guys: What they look like, where they come from, when they appear, how to get rid of them, and how to prevent flying termites from bothering you.
What Are Flying Termites?
Wait, so termites fly? Yes, some termites fly, but not all of them. Flying termites (also called alates) are reproductive termite adults that have wings. These flying termites leave their nest to reproduce and form new termite colonies. Because they usually fly in large groups, forming a swarm, they are also known as termite swarmers.
Initially, for the first three to five years of a termite colony, the termite queen and termite king (who once were alates) are the only reproductives. Once a colony is well-established, new reproductives will start to be produced (the flying termites) to form new colonies and continue the termite life cycle.
How Long Do Flying Termites Live?
Flying termites live for about an hour and sometimes more but never surpass a day. If they don’t perish from predators or the lack of humidity and are successful in mating, however, their luck changes drastically. The female will eventually become a termite queen, living up to 35 years, and the male will turn into a termite king, reaching 10 years or more.
What Do Flying Termites Look Like?
Flying termites look like bigger, darker termites with wings. Flying termites are generally the only termites to have contact with sunlight, hence their darker color. They are also bigger than workers and termite soldiers. Besides the presence of wings, alates also have compound eyes, which help to identify mates and with orientation while they fly.
Here are the general features of flying termites:
- Flying termites can have different colors, which vary between the different types of termites. Flying termites can be light brown or dark brown (such as the Formosan species alates), red, or black (like the swarmers of the Eastern subterranean species).
- Flying termites are approximately 1/2 inch, being larger than workers and soldiers. They generally are about the size of a fingernail, but this can vary according to the species. Dampwood reproductives, for example, are bigger than drywood or subterranean alates.
- Flying termites’ most obvious feature is their wings. Swarmers have four wings that are approximately double the length of their bodies. The wings are usually translucent, with a gray or light brown color to them.
Differences Between Flying Ants and Flying Termites
Termite swarmers can easily be confused with ants, as they are very similar. So how can I tell the difference between flying ants and flying termites? Look at the abdomen, the wings, and the antennae:
- Abdomen: The thorax and abdomen of flying ants have a division, giving the impression of a “small waist.” Termite swarmers, on the other hand, have a broad abdomen with no visible “waist.”
- Wings: Flying ants also have four wings, but the front wings are larger than the hind wings. All four of the termite’s wings are roughly the same size.
- Antennae: While flying ants’ antennae are angled and look like an elbow, termite alates have straight antennae.
Where Do Flying Termites Come From?
Flying termites come from the termite colony, usually built underground or inside wood. They leave the nest through the colony’s swarming tubes.
You will most likely see them outside, but you can also spot flying termites inside your home. But what could have caused flying termites in your house? In this case, there are two possibilities:
- Flying termites could have entered your home through open doors or windows. Termite swarmers are attracted to light, so they could have been lured by the lights and entered your home through doors, windows, or small crevices.
- Flying termites could have appeared from inside the structure of your home. In this case, they might have passed through cracks in the foundation or walls. If flying termites are emerging from the inside of your home, this can be a sign of a termite infestation. In such circumstances, calling a professional is always the best option.
When Do Termites Swarm?
Termites swarm mostly during spring, which is the swarming season, when the weather is warm and heavy rains occur. Flying termites appear after it rains because termites need moist environments to survive. So, the moist soil after a rain event is a green light for swarmers to come out of the nest.
Local climate conditions and the termite species can also play a role in when flying termites come out:
- Subterranean termites swarm during spring or fall.
- Formosan subterranean termites can even swarm during winter when infesting homes with heated basements.
- Drywood termites and conehead termites swarm during summer and early fall.
- Dampwood termites swarm in the summer.
How to Get Rid of Flying Termites
Now that you know all the basic flying termites facts, let’s talk about how to get rid of flying termites.
The best way to eliminate flying termites is to contact a pro. A qualified professional will be able to address the root of the problem and get rid of the entire colony for you, since killing flying termites will not treat an existing infestation.
Here are some homemade alternatives that can help you temporarily control flying termites in the meantime:
- Distract them with bug zappers: They will be attracted to the light and then electrocuted by the trap. But bug zappers have a downside: They also attract and kill beneficial insects.
- Spray your yard with orange oil: To avoid the bug zappers’ potential risk, you can get rid of flying termites naturally by spraying your yard with orange oil. However, there is no concrete evidence of the efficacy of this method.
- Sprinkle boric acid: Another natural option that has proven effects against flying termites is boric acid. You can find this product as a powder that you can apply to your home’s perimeter.
How Much Does it Cost to Get Rid of Flying Termites?
While a termite inspection costs from $65 to $265 (some companies offer free inspections), professional termite treatment costs range from $275 to $863.
The recommended course of action when dealing with termites is to get professional help. A pro can determine if the source of the flying termites is in your home or a nearby nest and offer curative or preventative treatments depending on your termite situation.
How to Prevent Flying Termites
You can also keep flying termites away from your home with these simple steps:
- Close doors and windows or install mosquito screens.
- Seal under doors, windows, and any cracks you can find.
- Turn off your outdoor lights during the swarming season.
- Fix any leaks. Termites love moisture, so keep your home dry.
- Store firewood away from your home’s perimeter and off the ground.
FAQ About Flying Termites
Why Do Flying Termites Suddenly Appear?
Flying termites seem to appear suddenly because they leave the colony all at once, in large numbers, during the reproductive season.
What Do Flying Termites Eat?
Flying termites won’t eat anything from the time they leave the nest until their colony is established. In contrast to their worker counterparts, the alates do not eat wood. Their sole purpose is to mate and reproduce, so they will not eat once they leave the nest.
After finding a nest and mating, during the first few months, the flying termites (now king and queen) survive from the fats and proteins stored in their bodies. The queen and king will fast until the first eggs hatch with worker termites, which will eventually forage for cellulose-containing materials and bring food for both back to the nest.
Why Do Flying Termites Lose Their Wings?
The purpose of flying termites’ wings is to facilitate their mating flight and find a suitable nest so they can start a new colony. Once they find a mate and a new nest, they no longer need wings and will lose them. Over time, the female alate will become practically immobile as a termite queen, laying hundreds to thousands of eggs per day.
When to Call a Professional
Are flying termites bothering you? Do their shed wings leave a mess in your home? Call a professional termite control service to solve your problem. Pest Gnome connects you to the best termite control pros in your area. Get in touch and say goodbye to flying termites.
Main Image Credit: Tanut Nitkumhan / Canva Pro / License
