Sunday, March 20th, is the first official day of spring. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, this is the earliest spring arrival in the Northern Hemisphere in our lifetime. Additionally, termite season officially begins that day!
In the United States, termites cause damage to buildings worth billions of dollars annually. Keep your house out of the numbers! Contact Saela Pest Control for more information.
Ways to eliminate spring swarmers during summer
The following measures will help you avoid termite swarmers damage:
- Anything constructed of wood should be kept away from your house, especially construction projects, firewood, and cross ties, as these might act as termite-feeding sources.
- Mulch is another food source for termites, so keep it away from the outside of your house.
- Because termites love moisture, keep gutters clean to remove moisture sources.
Knowing what to look for is also important. Early identification of a termite infestation is essential to preventing home damage. In the spring, termites swarm, and while they do not cause any harm, this signifies the presence of a destructive termite colony nearby.
Due to their two pairs of long, narrow wings, which are equal in size and, in contrast to other termites in the colony, dark or black in color, swarming termites are frequently mistaken with flying ants. Termite (subterranean) swarmers leave their nests to start new colonies when the weather gets warm or damp, typically during the day. Because termites are attracted to light, you will probably find them swarming near windows, doors, and lighting. They may also sometimes go behind their wings.
Comparison between swarmers termites and flying ants
The antennae of swarmer termites are straight. However, the antennae of flying ants are bent. The thick, wide, one-section body of swarmer termites makes them easy to recognize. On the other hand, the narrowed waist of flying ants divides the abdomen from the thorax
Flying ants and swarmer termites both have wings, although they seem different. These annoying termites will have two identically sized sets of wings. Their wings are double as large as their bodies. Additionally, they will look like veins and be transparent.
In addition to having two sets of wings, flying ants will have larger wings on the front than the back. These brown wings are more compatible with the size of the ant’s body.
Contact a pest control company that will assist you in quickly recognizing the pest that is causing problems in your house if you are not sure which one it is.
Do Swarmer Termites Pose a Danger?
If homeowners have a termite infestation, they might be concerned about their safety. Naturally, it can be stressful to not know what an insect is capable of. Fortunately, swarmer termites rarely bite people and pose no dangers to health.
However, these widespread pests have the potential to severely damage your home’s structural integrity. Swarmer termites can pose a danger to personal safety and result in a costly repair bill for the home where they live if they are not identified and treated.
Air vents, exterior gaps, and wood features are every potential pathway for termites into a house. To get energy and procreate, they consume goods made of wood and paper that contain cellulose.
Swarmer Termite season
One important phase of the termite’s life cycle is swarming. Termites reproduce at this time because they have exceeded their existing colony and must move to a fresh site. Both male and female termites are found in swarms. Depending on the size of the colony, they could have hundreds or even thousands of insects.
It typically happens on a warm, windless spring day after rain. Finding an equal and establishing a new colony are made easier by these favorable conditions.
The swarming season for subterranean termites occurs only once a year, typically in the spring and early summer. However, in the summertime and early fall, several termite species will swarm.