Termite Swarmers

There are a lot of pests to look out for as a home or business owner, but some of them are more annoying then others. Flying termites are one of the most annoying of pests to encounter and can really foil areas of the home, without even knowing it. Some people confuse these flying insects for other things, but make no mistake about it; these termite swarmers can really pack a punch.

Termite swarmers (also called a termite alate) are newly matured male and female termites that fly around in order to mate. They initially fly around in a group and separate by pairs in order to form a colony. Once there is a king and queen established in an area they build their nest, their wings fall off and their bodies begin to increase in size. They then attack wood structures and can eventually completely erode structures, causing costly repairs and exterminations to be done. Termite swarmers are traditionally found on the exterior surfaces of a home and usually land on the walls of a home due to the wind. When found on a wall or exterior, it is not too much cause for alarm, however, if the swarmers are found near windows, doors, garages, bay windows, columns, or wood structures there could be some problems that will need to be addressed.

These insects swarm near a home and don't always indicate infestation. However, if the swarming continues on a regular basis, with multitudes landing on or around your house house, there might be cause for alarm as they might be inside already.

Termite swarmers tend to wait for springtime, on days without rain in the north to begin swarming. In southern areas the swarming follows rain. They also tend to start after a nest has reached a mature and established status.

Identifying these winged insects could be tricky, but they follow some common points. The solider termites of this family have an orange colored rectangular armored head with mandibulate pinchers. They also have a small fontanelle on their forehead used to squirt poison, and are their main defense mechanism. They also have equal length wings, a straight abdomen, and straight antennae. It's important to find these unique points to differentiate ants from termites, as some people have a hard time telling them apart.

Pictures of termites can really help quickly identify termites.

The following are pictures of termite swarmers (aka: flying termites).