Termite Swarmers

As the spring season draws closer, it brings with it many pleasant changes such as warm weather, new life, and sunny days. However, the warmth of springtime also brings pests of all kinds as well. One destructive pest that is especially active during this season is the termite. If you are out during this time of the year, you might notice large swarms of flying termites in and around your home. These winged termites, also known as swarmers, are a warning sign of current and future termite activity around your home.

Termite swarmers, or alates as they are sometimes called, are the future kings and queens of termite colonies. They are relatively small, have two sets of wings, and usually have a beige or white coloration.

During the spring, termite swarmers emerge from their colonies and congregate with swarmers from other nearby colonies. These groups are often extremely numerous, and it is this act that gives the alates the name “swarmers.” These swarms occur at different parts of the day depending on the species. Some species, such as subterranean termites, gather during the day; while others, such as Formosan termites, gather at night. The swarming seasons of all nearby nests are usually synchronized, and this allows large numbers of candidates for new colonies to be gathered at once during this season.

Once they have collected together, the swarmers will mate, and afterwards descend, lose their wings, and become the king or queen of a new termite colony. These new colonies can pose a threat to your home if they are established in close enough proximity to the structure.

Termite swarmers do not eat cellulosic material, and therefore they pose no direct threat to your home. However, swarmers are both a sign of current termite activity on your property as well as a potential future threat should they establish a new colony nearby. For this reason, if you identify termite swarmers on your home, it is important to have an inspection of the property by a professional pest service as soon as possible. A trained technician can identify any active termite infestations and provide any necessary preventative treatment to deal with future colonies.

Here at Canton Termite and Pest Control, we have years of experience dealing with termites. Our highly trained technicians can inspect your property, identify any signs of potential termite activity, and provide you with the best treatment solutions to eliminate termites and keep them away from your home permanently!