When you see a termite swarm, one of the first things you might wonder is whether the insects have wings. However, only a specific caste of termites has wings during their reproductive phase.
Winged termites are called alates and are responsible for swarming during the spring and fall. They release a pheromone to attract male termites that can then mate and start new colonies.
Swarming
When a termite colony is overcrowded, or there’s a shortage of food, it will produce winged termites that will fly and look for new areas to settle. These scout termites are especially attracted to moisture-prone areas, such as foundation cracks, pipe chases, construction gaps and minuscule entry points around the home.
Termites often enter buildings and homes by using mud tunnels to move from one place to another. These mud tubes help the termites avoid detection, and are an important part of their survival strategy.
Once termites find a place to live, they will start building a colony in the soil near the ground surface. This colony is made up of a queen, who’s the primary reproductive termite, secondary reproductives and workers. A queen may lay millions of eggs in her lifetime.
As her population grows, the queen must look for new places to settle in order to maintain the colony. When she feels that conditions are right, the termite queen will launch her alates into the air and wait until they find a suitable mate to pair with.
The swarmers will then travel on foot to a new location, where they will start a new colony with their mating partner. As the colony begins to grow, the swarmers will continue to scout and send out new swarmers.
When the swarmers are close to their goal, they will leave the colony in a massive group. Typically, termite colonies will produce hundreds, or even thousands, of swarmers in one year.
These swarmers are a good sign that you’ve got an infestation of termites in your home. It’s a good idea to get them under control before they cause too much damage.
During a swarm, termites will fly towards a light source like windows or doors, which can be a sign that they’re on the lookout for a new home. These swarmers will die within hours if they can’t find a home because of dehydration and a lack of soil.
Swarming termites will usually collect around windows and doors, as well as along window sills or furniture. They will also leave behind temporary wings that fall off after landing, so be on the lookout for discarded wings if you spot a swarm.
Spotting Wings
Termites are a common pest that can cause billions of dollars in damage to American homes and other structures each year. These insects are so destructive that many people are reluctant to try to get rid of them on their own, even when they know they’re causing problems.
As the weather warms up, termite colonies often begin to release reproductive winged termite swarmers, also known as alates, who leave their nests in search of a mate and a place to start a new colony. These swarmers can look very scary, especially if they’re in the air!
If you see these swarmers around your home, the first thing you should do is call a pest control technician. They can help you determine which insect it is and treat it accordingly.
When you spot a swarm of termites with wings, it’s probably a sign that you have an infestation and you should seek professional help immediately! If you do your homework on these insects, you’ll be able to save yourself a lot of money and stress.
Another important thing to keep in mind when spotting termites with wings is that they will only be able to fly a short distance before breaking off their wings and returning to their nest. Once they land, they’ll burrow themselves into the soil and begin to build a new colony.
The swarming process is a natural part of termite development, which involves foraging and feeding workers until they reach maturity. Once they are fully developed, they are ready to mate and form new termite colonies.
Termite swarmers are dark-brown or black in color and usually measure about quarter to half an inch in length. They have two pairs of wings, mounted closely together just below the head at the top of their thorax.
Their wings are equal in length, with a white color and veins that give them a translucent appearance. They also have two straight antennae with a slight curve.
In addition to their wings, swarmers also have a long bill and unmarked outer tail feathers. Birds east of the Rockies have extensive spotting on their wings and wider facial stripes than those in the interior West.
Losing Wings
When you see a swarm of winged termites flying around your home, it can be incredibly confusing. Most people assume that these insects are ants or flying mosquitoes and don’t realize that they’re actually termites with wings!
Termite swarms occur when the weather warms up and it’s time for mating season. Generally, this happens in the spring, but it can vary depending on your area’s climate.
A swarm of termites that has landed on your property can be a sign of an infestation and it’s important to contact pest control services as soon as possible. They’ll be able to help you get rid of the swarm and prevent any further damage to your home.
While termites have a number of different castes, only a small portion of them can actually fly. These fliers are called alates, and they’re responsible for seeking out mates from other termite colonies.
They’ll then become the new king and queen termites in a colony. Once they’ve mated, they’ll travel to the perfect nesting spot where they’ll drop their wings and burrow underground.
You’ll be able to tell if they’re termites by their wings, which are usually translucent or pale in color. They have a few veins on them and are very delicate.
Wings are also typically broken off after they land, which is why it’s common to find them discarded or scattered around your property. These discarded wings are a sign that you’re dealing with termites and should be removed as soon as possible.
Besides being unattractive, termites are also a source of major structural damage to your home. Their presence can cause leaks, moisture damage and rotting wood.
They can also cause costly structural repairs. In fact, they’re responsible for billions of dollars in damages in the United States each year.
While they’re not dangerous to humans, these termites can cause a lot of damage to your property and may not be covered by homeowners insurance. They’re a serious threat and should be treated immediately. The best way to ensure that you don’t have a termite infestation is to schedule a home inspection with your local pest control expert.
Discarded Wings
When termites swarm, they will leave their colony in large numbers and fly towards a light source. They will stay in the air for around 30 minutes and then land, shed their wings and start searching for a new nest to begin a new colony.
Termites have three different castes: workers, soldiers and winged reproductives (called alates). Workers take care of the eggs and larvae in a colony, defend the home against attack by other insects and build and maintain tunnels.
Soldiers are the most active members of a colony, as they hunt for food and protect the colony from enemies. The winged reproductives, also called alates, are the kings and queens of a termite colony. They are able to mate with other termites and produce a new colony when they find a suitable mate.
Swarming termites are most often attracted to brightly lit areas and will usually swarm in or near outdoor lights, street lamps and windows. They then mate and then shed their wings, which are usually found on the ground or inside homes.
These swarming termites are also known as alates, as they are at the reproductive stage and mate in order to increase their population. Once a mated queen finds a gap or hole in wood, she will dig out a nest and lay her eggs.
In addition, swarming termites may be seen flying around the edges of wooden structures and trees in a search for a sheltered spot to establish a new termite colony. They may also be seen swarming in or near the ground on tree stumps and around soil, mud tubes, and foundations of buildings where they can find water and other food sources to survive.
Termites are typically dark brown in color with two sets of wings. They range from 3/8 to 1 inch in length, depending on the species. The front set of their wings is bigger than the back set and are see-through.