Flying Termites In Your Home? How To Get Rid Of Winged Termites ?
During the summer season, you can expect to see tiny winged creatures flying around your outdoor lights, attaching themselves to your windows and walls, and trying to make their way into your house. These insects are common pests that are popularly known as flying termites or alates.
Why do termites take flight?
Normally termites are only found in their subterranean tunnels under the ground. But as the weather warms up and the humidity increases , it is common to find the reproductive termites taking flight.
Their goal during the humid season is to leave their nests and find a suitable place such us under a tree or tree stump where a pair of termites can shed there wings and burry them self’s into the soil these termites will then be on there way to establishing there own new termite colony. Typically, it takes about three to five years to complete a full-sized one, which can cause severe damage to your property.
Read on further below to find out more tips on handling flying termites.
What should you do if you find flying termites around your property ?
If you sight flying termite around your home hiring a termite control professional to survey your property for possible termite nests and areas conducive conditions for termite activity is a great first step and is essential to decrease the risk of being attacked by a termite colony even though flying termites cannot cause physical damage to your house their presence means a termite nest which could is close by . Unfortunately, home insurance won’t cover possible damages made by termites.
With the help of termite extermination experts, they’ll be able to inspect for the activity of these pesky critters and make sure they are no live termites currently active within your home causing damage without you knowing and give you advise on how to manage your risks and prevent a possible termite infestation.
How to tell the difference between a flying ant and a flying termite?
While people often get flying ants confused with flying termites there are a couple of important differences that can help you identify the difference between the two, a flying ant differs from a winged termite in terms of size, also while both have four wings , winged termites wings are both the same size and flying ants wings are different sizes.
They Don’t Work Alone
Usually, winged termites don’t appear in your property on their own. Instead, expect them to come in a swarm where you can find about hundreds or thousands of them. That’s because flying termites are social creatures that prefer to work in groups, similar to ants and bees. They are also looking for a partner so they can become the new kings and queens of their newly established colony.
Should I be worried if I find them outside the house?
A swarm of winged termites gathering around your outdoor light is nothing to be alarmed about. You can simply turn off your lights and watch them fly away in search of the next source of light they can find. But what it does mean is your property is in close proximity to a established termite nest as swarming termites typically travel no further then around 100 meters from their original colony.
However you should be on high alert if you find them flying around inside your house and they don’t appear to have come from outside , you might be in more trouble than you think as it could mean they could be nesting in the house causing damage without you knowing —so it’s best to call a professional to take care of the situation immediately. If termites are crawling out of your walls, then you may have a pest infestation on-hand.
They Cannot Easily be Eradicated
You may be considering eliminating a swarm of winged termites by merely using bug spray, but that won’t solve your problem. You may have wiped out a couple dozen of flying termites but you haven’t got rid of the source of the problem the termite colony they came from which is still active and in close proximity to your home so you house is still at potential risk.
They May Appear to Have Gone—But Only Temporarily
If you’ve noticed a decline of the swarm of flying termites on your property, you may think your problem is over. In truth, you’re supposed to start worrying even more! As there may still be a active termite nest where the winged termite originated from in close proximity to your house ready to attack or a new colony establishing it self within your property without you knowing so it is vitally important you maintain regular professional termite inspection to reduce your risk
So remember the sudden disappearance of winged termites may mean a mating pair have found shelter near or in your home and are forming a new termite colony which in a couple of years when the nest matures could mean serious trouble for you property.
Frequently asked questions about flying termites
While it is common to see flying termites emerge after rain.The rain itself doesn’t cause them to swarm it is the change in humidity that triggers the reproductive termites to take flight and leave their established colony to start their own.
No they cannot physically damage your property like worker termites can. Their main objective is to find a partner to establish a new termite colony of their own.
Yes like the majority of insects at night, they are attracted to light sources around your property , such as outdoor patio lights, security lights, and even light reflecting of surfaces inside your home.
Once the reproductive termites find a mate and a perfect nesting location they will drop their wings and burrow themselves underneath the ground to become the new king an queens of a termite colony. After a termite flight it is common to see termites wings scattered around your property.
Conclusion
It can be frightening , to say the least for a home owner to suddenly find themselves surrounded by thousands of winged termites. You may fear that your home is about to come under attack!
Don’t panic though. The first thing to remember –flying Termites themselves cannot actually cause damage to house they first need to form a Colony
Although it takes years before flying termites can establish a colony, you shouldn’t be too relaxed about the situation. As it means a active termite colony may be in close proximity to your property and you must for a termite management plan to reduce the potential risk of termite attack to your property so you must call a professional right away the moment you notice flying termites invading your home.
Are you looking for a service that can handle termite treatment for your trees in Australia? Clean And Green Pest Managers provides residential and commercial pest control services, including termite control in the Northern Beaches. Get in touch with us today!
