A swarm of termites is probably not on a list of things you want to see at your home
You're relaxing in your yard when you spy an alarming mass of buzzing insects. Unfortunately, you may have seen a termite swarm. While this doesn’t mean you should panic, you should definitely not ignore them. Here’s what to do if you notice termites swarm outside your home.
The most visible sign of a termite infestation, termite swarms occur when the bugs venture out of their nest and toward cracks and crevices near a home’s foundation. This typically occurs when their colony has reached a specific size and the weather conditions welcome flight. It will look like a bunch of bugs gathering around a specific area, such as near light fixtures or near windows.
Termites swarm once their colony has reached max capacity and is ready to grow. This pushes hundreds or thousands of termites out about once a year and includes both male and female termites. When outside conditions are ideal for termites to venture out, they take off into the air and pair off. After this, they usually mate, discard their wings, and find a new place to nest.
The time of year termites swarm depends on the subgroup. Drywood termites, for example, swarm in late summer to early fall while dampwood termites swarm in the summer. Subterranean termites, on the other hand, swarm during daylight in the spring. A swarm typically occurs a day or so after rainfall when winds are low and when the sky is overcast. Survival rates are even higher when there’s more humidity in the air.
The short answer? Not long. Termites usually swarm for about 30 to 40 minutes before the bugs find their way toward a light source or near windows and sliding glass doors. If they can’t find a route to the outside of your home and near soil, they’ll dehydrate and die within a few hours.
What happens during a termite swarm varies based on whether the pests are inside or outside your home.
Indoor termite swarms look much different from outdoor swarms. In fact, most indoor swarmers will likely die off due to lack of moisture. The termites are likely trying to find their way outside and get trapped when they can’t find a way out. Signs of an indoor swarm include discarded wings or bugs near your window sills or other open areas. If you spot discarded wings, you can save them and show them to a termite control specialist to confirm that the bugs have set up shop somewhere in your home.
During an outdoor swarm, male and female termites pair up during flight. Once they mate, they’ll lose their wings and start looking for a new place to nest and lay their eggs. Their behavior typically looks like a “train” where the male follows the female as they each run across the ground while they search for a new home.
While spotting a termite swarm outside doesn’t necessarily mean you have a major infestation inside, it indicates that termites are present nearby. You should be proactive to prevent termite damage to your home.
Inspect your property for other tell-tale signs of termite infestation. These include:
Discarded wings
Mud tubes
Discolored, drooping, or peeling drywall or paint
Buckling floorboards or loose tires
Crumbling wood
Termite pellets (sawdust-like piles near floorboards)
Pinpoint-sized holes in your wall
Hollow-sounding wood
Maze-like patterns in wood or wood furniture
A drywood termite swarm is less noticeable than a subterranean termite swarm, so it may take more effort to spot. You’ll likely see no more than 100 swarmers, and you may see evidence of the swarm in discarded wings near windowsills than the swarm itself. Drywood termite swarms are more common during the late summer and into early fall.
Since they aren’t as detrimental to your house, dampwood termite swarms are not as worrisome as others, but they still need to be addressed. You can find this type of swarm near wood around the exterior of your home, like by utility polls. Dampwood termite swarms occur in the summer and can be treated by reducing moisture around the outside of your home.
If you catch a swarm in your home, unfortunately, this means your home is very likely infested with termites. Check around for wings: termites can chew off their wings and drop them before digging into wood, so look around baseboards and window sills for discarded wings. Even if you don’t see any of the other signs of infestation, if you think you saw a swarm of termites inside your home, call a pest removal specialist immediately.
After spotting a dreaded termite swarm, follow these steps to resolve the problem quickly.
Look for uniform-shaped, tube-like bugs with pinched waists and large abdomens. This is essential in determining how to get rid of termites.
Shut your doors and windows to ensure the bugs don’t find their way outside. If you see an exit hole, you can put a plastic bag around it to catch the termites. Once contained, they’ll usually die within a few hours.
Once the bugs are contained or killed, the best move is to contact your local pest control professional to come out and perform a termite inspection. This first step will help determine what next steps are necessary and what type of termite treatment or repair you may need.
