Termites are small, silent destroyers of wood. They can be seen in and around homes, consuming the cellulose within the wood that gives it strength and rigidity.
As part of their life cycle, termites have three castes: worker, soldier, and reproductive caste members or alates. These alates can develop wings during their life cycles and can swarm to seek a mate and start new colonies.
Alates
Termites are the most destructive insects that can invade your home. They can eat through wooden building components, causing serious damage to your property.
Occasionally, mature termite colonies produce winged reproductive offspring. Known as alates, these young termites fly out of their nests to reproduce and establish new colonies.
The swarming of these alates, or termites with wings, is the most visible sign that a termite infestation has taken hold in your home. The swarming is an important mating ritual, and it also ensures the continuity of the species.
A termite swarm is comprised of hundreds to thousands of winged alates. These swarms are formed when female alates release a pheromone that attracts male termites from other colonies.
These swarmings can happen at any time during the year, but are most common in the late summer and early fall. In Australia, the swarming season for termites of three different species (Neotermes castaneus, Neotermes jouteli, and Neotermes luykxi) stretches from August until the start of November.
The swarm of winged termites is released from the nest in the form of a horde of insect-like creatures that are able to fly in synchrony. They take off from the termite nest and leave it in search of a mate.
They typically land on rotting tree stumps and wood. This provides the female alate with a new place to lay her eggs, which she will incubate and raise.
While it is possible for termites to swarm from the ground, most alates will leave their colonies through an opening in the wall or roof of a structure. Once out of the nest, these swarming termites are attracted to light and will try to find warmth and light in your home.
Some termite alates are able to survive this flight, but most will die from exposure or other critters that prey on them once they hit the ground. This is why it is so important to keep your doors and windows sealed.
It is best to have a professional inspect your home and determine if there is a termite colony present. If there is, it will be necessary to have termite treatments implemented in order to rid the home of a termite infestation.
Swarmers
Swarmers are termites with wings that emerge from a mature colony to mate and start new colonies. The swarming process occurs during the spring and summer when weather conditions are right for flying. It only lasts a few minutes and is not visible to the human eye.
Termites are considered one of the most destructive pests on your property. They can cause a lot of damage by feeding on wood and other materials that make up your home’s structure. They can also attack and destroy your lawn and garden.
A termite colony takes about three to six years to fully mature, and it begins producing alates, or reproductive caste members, when it reaches a certain size. Each alate is responsible for seeking mates, laying eggs and starting new colonies.
As a result, it is important to be able to identify termites with wings when you see them. You can do this by looking at the size and shape of their wings, as well as the way they are mounted onto their bodies.
Wings are usually equal in length and have a white coloration. They are also rounded at the ends and have a veiny appearance.
In addition, termites with wings have straight antennae that are slightly curved. These features help you distinguish them from winged ants, which have longer wings and straight antennae.
Swarmers are most commonly found in the spring and early summer when weather is warm enough for them to fly and they have plenty of moisture. Termites with wings are most likely to be found in homes and other structures where they can get plenty of sunlight.
During this time, termites with wings can be seen swarming around light fixtures and windowsills. This is because they are attracted to the light.
If you notice a large number of these insects at the interior of your house, it could be a sign that there’s a termite colony inside. If you have a substantial swarm, it’s important to contact a professional pest control company to inspect your home for signs of termites.
Pile of Tiny Wings
Termite wings are a sign of a colony that’s ready to expand. If you see a pile of tiny wings in your home, it may indicate that mature termites have left their nest to establish new colonies.
Winged termites can be a scary sight, but they’re not as destructive as you might think. They typically take flight only on warm, sunny days following a rainstorm.
These swarms are a brief phenomenon that occurs during the spring and summer. You may notice them on windowsills, doors, and crawlspaces. If you see a swarm of termites, it’s a good idea to call in an exterminator immediately.
A termite with wings is much easier to spot than a non-winged termite, so if you see them, don’t be afraid to get out your camera or binoculars! If you see a lot of them, you’ll want to vacuum up all the ones you can, but don’t throw them in the trash.
If you’re trying to tell a termite with wings from an ant, look for differences in their body segments and wings. Termites have three body segments (head, thorax and abdomen) while ants have two. Termites are also larger than ants, have thicker waists and their wings are equal in length.
For this reason, it’s often easy to confuse termites with ants and other insects like carpenter ants. The biggest difference between the two is that termites have a straight waist and antennae, while ants have bent waists and antennae.
Another way to tell a termite with wings away from an ant is that termites have wings that are twice as long as their bodies. Termites also have a single pair of wings, whereas ants have a pair of larger wings and a smaller pair.
The thorax of a termite is divided into three sections, and each segment has a pair of legs. Termites also have a head and a pair of antennae.
Some species of termite, such as Formosan and Eastern subterranean termites, have unique markings or patterns on their wings. For example, a Formosan termite will have two distinct vein outlines on their wings. Drywood termites will have three or more distinct vein outlines.
Identification
If you’ve ever spotted a swarm of winged termites in or around your home, you may have wondered whether they are actually a pest infestation or just something else. Unfortunately, many people mistake them for flying ants and end up with a more costly problem than they anticipated.
Termites with wings are reproductives that swarm out of their colony in order to mate and form new colonies. Reproductive termites do not remain in the swarm for very long, and when they land they quickly shed their wings to return to the colony.
These swarmers are usually visible during spring and summer and can be triggered by heavy rain or warm, humid temperatures. However, they can also swarm anytime of year as well.
Flying termites are similar in appearance to other termite castes, but they differ slightly in their color and wings. Drywood termite swarmers are typically red to dark brown to pale tan in color with transparent or smoky gray wings. Subterranean termite swarmers are darker in color and their wings have more of a metallic appearance.
In addition to their color, these alates have different wing venation patterns depending on the type of termite. For example, subterranean termites have two parallel veins along the top of their wings, while drywood termites have small cross veins between them.
The venation patterns of these termite wings are an excellent tool in helping you identify which kind of termite you are dealing with. For example, the venation pattern of a termite swarmer is likely to be much more prominent than that of a termite that has not yet taken flight, as reproductive termites are more mobile and can move about a bit quicker than other termites within the colony.
Another important factor to consider is the shape of the insect’s body. Termites have a thick waist and are usually wider than they are tall. This gives them a more substantial look to them.
Unlike other insects, they do not have a constriction between their thorax and abdomen, which can help you easily determine that it is an ant or not.