Do swarming termites translate to infestation? Termite swarming in and outside homes is the focus of our discussion.
The presence of termites on a property can be terrifying for most homeowners. This is rightfully so due to the huge destruction they’re known for. Although scary, what does it mean?
Here, we’ll provide the answers you’ve always longed for. With such information, you can take adequate steps to check winged termite activity.
Swarming Termites In House
A termite swarm is an event that happens every year when there’s a termite colony around.
Termite swarms are necessary to ensure the survival and expansion of termites. The termites involved in this swarming activity are the alates.
These are the reproductive types that go on to establish colonies in sections of your home, like bathrooms.
Termite Swarm Outside Home
To establish a colony, male and female termites must pair off during swarming.
When they reach their destination, they shed their wings and band together to form a new colony. Whenever termite swarming happens, a termite colony is never far away.
All such termites emerge from their nests to take their first flight. As long as there’s lighting, these termite swarms will come around. Their attraction to lights means they’ll come around your property.
Termite swarming mostly happens in the evenings.
Dangers Posed By Swarmers
If you’ve wondered whether termite swarming is a sign of impending danger, you’re right!
Termite swarming is a key indicator of termite infestation or presence. As termites come around, they go on to establish their colonies. Alates are reproductive species of termites.
So, within a few months to about a year or so, their activities start becoming evident.
Termite swarming happens several times each year. So, you might want to get advice from a reputable pest management service on how best to handle the situation.
Also, you’ll need to know how to protect your home or property.
Why Termites Swarm
The simplest answer to give about why termites swarm is simply for reproductive or expansion purposes. As the years go by, a termite colony grows and reaches a maximum threshold.
Now, part of such expansion includes the production of alates who emerge for the sole aim of reproduction.
The group or category of termites known as alates consists of males and females. Each year, every active termite colony produces a certain number of alates. These will live in the nest until they attain maturity.
Asides from attaining maturity, alates only fly out when weather conditions are right.
Is This A One-Day Event?
Termite swarming isn’t a one-day event. It happens over a couple of days each year.
During this time, alates emerge from surrounding termite colonies for this important flight or journey. Termite swarms are more pronounced during the first day.
There are larger numbers of termites during the first day, with subsequent swarms getting smaller as the days roll by. When this ceases, it’s because matured alates have completed their journey to establish colonies.
This process begins the following year afresh.
Termite Swarming Season
Termite swarming is observed at various times of the year.
You’ll notice termite swarms in early summer, early fall, and summer. The different termite species are responsible for such differences in timing.
In other words, the type of termite (whether drywood or dampwood) will determine what time of year they swarm.
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Dampwood Termite Swarms
This species of termites are known to swarm more in summer.
Compared to drywood termites, dampwood termites aren’t as destructive. They need a lot of moisture to survive, and the wood in your home doesn’t contain much moisture.
So, dampwood termites will prefer to seek such conditions elsewhere.
You’ll likely find dampwood termites in utility poles or other dampwood outside your home. So what time of year do dampwood termite swarms happen?
It goes down in summer.
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Drywood Termite Swarms
Drywood termites normally swarm in the fall or late summer months. Unlike subterranean termite swarms, drywood termite swarms aren’t sizeable. As such, they’re hardly noticed.
However, one way to find out if there is a termite infestation going on is by looking out for tell-tale signs.
A close inspection of your surroundings will reveal drywood termite wings that have been shed lying around window sills and other openings.
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The Importance of Timing for Termite Swarming
Timing is everything when it comes to termite swarming. Alates will wait for the right conditions before taking off.
What are these right conditions? They mostly consist of weather conditions. Of course, such alates must be fully mature before taking the flight.
Termites mostly launch out a day after a rain shower. Such situations result in lower wind speeds and damp soils that they can dig up for building their nests easily.
Humidity is a major factor when it comes to termite survival, and this is abundant after a day of rain.
Taking Action Against Swarmers
As mentioned earlier, termite swarms are signs of termite presence or infestation on a property. A termite swarm is a sure sign of termite activity close to your home. To find out, you’ll need to inspect.
If you don’t know where to look, there’s no problem! Some skilled experts are just a call away.
Pest control services know just where to look for termite presence. Most pest management services will perform this service for free and proffer the best treatment approach to adopt.
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The Earlier, the Better
Termite swarming brings about infestations that should be handled with all the seriousness it deserves.
Ignoring this yearly event will only worsen your termite woes in the future, as these will cause significant property damage when left unchecked.
Diy strategies won’t do much to contain termite infestation. These are among the most difficult pests to control. Only the services of skilled and experienced technicians should be sought for your termite problem.
These technicians identify the termite species and recommend the best treatments to adopt.
Taking on a termite infestation at its earliest stage saves you the stress and losses caused by these pests when left unchecked.
Termite swarming has been the focus of our discussion. Now you know that this yearly event results in termite infestations. We’ve provided ways to go about inspection and prevention of an infestation.