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Do swarming termites mean infestation?
If you see a swarm of termites around your home, then there likely is a well-established colony of termites living in or near your home. For many homeowners, a termite swarm may be the most visible sign of a termite infestation.
What do termites look like when swarming?
They are usually black or dark brown in color. Swarming termites have wings that are the same length and clear in color. Termites are found in decaying stumps, trees, wood debris, lumber, and other wooden structures. They cause structural damage by eating wood and other cellulose-based products like paper.
How long do termite swarms last?
A termite swarm typically lasts between 30 and 40 minutes and involves the termites swarming around a light source like windows or glass doors. If they don’t find soil, they’ll die within a few hours.
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 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.
What time of day do drywood termites typically swarm?
Formosan termites swarm at night in the late spring and summer. Drywood termites swarm at night in the late summer and early fall.
How do you tell if termites are in your walls?
Common signs of termite damage to a wall include: Small pin holes, where termites have eaten through the paper coating on drywall and/or wallpaper. Faint ‘lines’ on drywall. A hollow sound when you tap on the wall. Bubbling or peeling paint. Baseboards that crumble under slight pressure. Jammed doors or windows.
How do you get rid of termite swarms in your house?
During swarming season, keep doors and windows shut as much as possible. Keep outdoor lights turned off at night also as they will attract swarming termites. Keep firewood stored at least 20 feet away from your home and elevated off the ground. Keep plants a few feet away from your home.
What time of day are termites most active?
Subterranean termites swarm during the day, particularly after rainfall. They’re most active in the spring. Invasive Formosan termites swarm at night and are generally at their peak in the late spring and summer. Drywood termites are also active at night, especially around lights.
What time of night do termites swarm?
The desert drywood termite swarms at night from June to September. The Pacific dampwood termite typically swarms from August to October, just before sunset. The Nevada dampwood termite swarms in spring at higher elevations, and in summer and early fall in coastal areas. Swarms often take place before sunset.
How do I get rid of termites without tenting?
Baiting systems, spot treatments, liquid termiticides (Termidor), soil treatment, wood treatment, orange oil, and even heat or cold treatments are all methods that have been used as alternatives to fumigation to varying degrees at success.
Why are termites flying around my house?
A flying termite swarm near the home nest could indicate a large colony in the yard or some other nearby location. Residents who find multiple alates inside, notice their shed wings around doors and windows, or see them emerging from the house exterior may have an active infestation inside their home.
Where do termites go after they swarm?
The swarming termites, or alates, leave their nests when conditions are right. They take flight and pair up with mates, and once they’ve secured their new home, usually in moist soil in direct contact with wood, they will shed their wings and start populating a new nest.
Do termite swarmers lose their wings?
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. Our termite control process is highly effective.
How long do termites live after they lose their wings?
The differences in these insects’ roles comes into clearer focus when consider their lifespans. Workers and soldiers live for a year or two, while flying termites typically die soon after their first flight. However, by some estimates, a termite queen can survive for decades.
Can termites go away on their own?
Can termites go away on their own after they have invaded a home or business? A. Yes, they can go away on their own. Without a termite treatment, there is no way of knowing when a healthy termite colony will return to re-infest a structure.
Do swarmer termites eat wood?
The swarming termites will drop and die in a short period of time. You may vacuum them up or you can save some in a bag for our company to inspect. They do not eat wood, bite, or sting, they are simply a nuisance. Fortunately swarmers are not capable of constructing mud tubes or causing structural damage to wood.
How often do flying termites swarm?
After some time in their current home, termites will reach a point in which the colony has grown to full capacity and it is time to expand and create a new colony. This stage is called swarming. A swarm usually takes place once a year when weather conditions are optimal.
