Termites are insects that cause significant wood damage to homes and businesses. Their wings help them fly in swarms to find mates and start new colonies. Seeing flying termites in your home can be alarming, but don’t spray them with pesticides! They’re just swarmers looking for a place to land.
They are reproductive members of the termite colony
Termites are social insects with a division of labor and different castes. The castes include workers, soldiers, and reproductives. The winged reproductives are known as swarmers and are responsible for establishing new colonies. They are often spotted around light fixtures and windowsills in spring. If you see these swarmers in your home, it is a good idea to contact a professional right away.
During the mating season, alates (male and female reproductives) leave their colony to find mates. They release a pheromone that attracts potential mates. Males from other termite colonies and from outside the colony will flock to this pheromone. This is what creates the termite swarm. Once the swarmers have a mate, they will break off their wings and burrow into the ground where they will begin a new colony.
Once established, a new colony will continue to grow and reproduce at an exponential rate. The queen’s role is to lay eggs until she is unable to keep up with the demands of the colony. She then allows supplemental queens to develop, which will lay the additional eggs needed to sustain the colony.
In subterranean termite colonies, the primary queen is usually large in physical size, achieving a mass several times that of the workers. She lays thousands of eggs per day and is the most important part of the colony. If she is outlived by the primary king, she will produce many parthenogenetic neotenic queens that will eventually take over the colony.
A swarm of flying termites is an indication that the colony has matured and is ready to expand. After a period of time, the swarmers will fly out of their nest to start new colonies. The swarmers will have two pairs of wings and are translucent with a smoky appearance. The wings are equal in length and have a distinct pattern of veins.
The wing veins of termites are typically parallel with a zigzag pattern that gives them a lacy look. They also have a straight body that is uniform in width from head to abdomen. This is a key feature that distinguishes them from ants, which have a distinct waist and more segmented bodies.
They are translucent or pale in color
When a termite colony reaches a certain stage in its development, it will produce winged reproductive members, also known as “swarmers.” These swarmers are responsible for seeking mates, laying eggs, and finding a new location where they can establish a new colony to become home to thousands or even millions of offspring. Swarming usually takes place when the weather is warm and humid. It can occur throughout the year, but it’s more common during rainy periods or when there is a lot of moisture.
During a swarm, flying termites have wings that are translucent or pale in color. Their wing lengths are equal and they have a narrow waistline, giving them a wasp-like appearance. They also have straight antennae, unlike ants, which have elbowed or bent antennae. Termites can be mistaken for flying ants, so it is important to know how to differentiate the two. The first thing to look for is the body shape. Termite wings are all the same length and clear in color, while ant wings are longer in the front than the back and dark in colour. Termites also have a broad waistline and a uniform appearance, while ants have three distinct body segments and a more segmented body.
Another way to identify termites is by their wing vein patterns. Termite wings have a lacy appearance with a network of tiny veins that form cells. Wings are also translucent and pale in colour, while ant wings have more prominent veins and are darker in color.
The best way to prevent termites from entering your home is by avoiding wooden structures that touch the ground. Instead, you should use commercially pressure treated wood and make sure that any buried wooden fence posts or deck poles are also treated. In addition, if you have any exterior lighting that shines into your house at night, it is a good idea to switch it off or install window coverings. Termites are very attracted to light and will swarm around lights, especially those near windows.
Seeing flying termites or signs of discarded wings and frass outside small holes in the wall can indicate that you have a termite problem. In addition to observing these signs, you should also check for mud tubes and discarded piles of wings. Termites construct mud tubes to gain access to the cellulose in wood and are usually found in walls or wood framing. If you see these signs, you should call your local Ehrlich Pest Control branch immediately to perform a full inspection.
They are 0.5 to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 cm) in length
Termites are known for destroying homes. However, a termite infestation can be difficult to detect until it is too late. Fortunately, there are some telltale signs of an insect infestation. One of the most obvious is a swarm of winged termites around your home. If you see this, it is important to contact a termite exterminator immediately. This will prevent the termites from causing serious damage to your property.
The wings of a termite are transparent and translucent, with a veiny appearance. They are also longer than the body and extend past it. They are often iridescent, but this depends on the species and lighting conditions. Termites with wings are usually dark in color, but some species may be red or yellow. They also have straight antennae.
Winged termites are also known as alates. They are the reproductive members of the colony and are responsible for seeking mates and starting new colonies. This is why they shed their wings when swarming and mating. Alates have two pairs of wings that are equal in length and can be up to twice as long as their bodies. The front wings are broad and thin, while the hind wings are narrower.
When a swarm of termites appears, it is a sign that the colony is ready to spawn. The swarmers leave their nests in search of a suitable place to start a new colony. They typically swarm over wood structures in search of a mate and a new home. However, if they cannot find a mate and a place to establish their colony, they will die of dehydration.
Termite swarmers typically disperse from their nest in the spring and summer, when they are most active. They can be detected by observing piles of discarded wings on window sills and in other open areas. The presence of swarmers inside the house is often a sign of an infestation.
Termites with wings are called swarmers or alates and are the reproductive caste members of the termite colony. They are able to fly because of their long, thin wings. They are the same size and shape as ants’ wings. Their antennae are straight from beginning to end, unlike ant’s antennae, which curve or “elbow” at the mid-point.
They are straight
While winged termites and flying ants may look similar to the untrained eye, there are many differences that can be used to differentiate them. One way to distinguish them is by examining the antennae. Flying termite antennas are straight, while ant antennae have an elbow curve to them. Another way to distinguish them is by looking at the wings. Flying termite wings are uniform in size and about twice as long as the insect’s body. In contrast, ants have narrow wings that are half as long as their bodies.
Unlike carpenter ants, which typically enter structures through cracks and crevices, termites travel through tunnels that are above ground. These tunnels can be found on the outside of buildings, in the mortar joints of brick, and on other surfaces. The tunnels also serve as migratory paths for the colony. A swarm of termites typically emerges from the tunnels in spring and fall.
If you spot a swarm of termites, don’t spray it with pesticide. Although that may kill the swarm, it won’t eliminate the root of the problem. Instead, contact a professional pest control company right away to get a free termite inspection of your home.
A termite infestation can cause significant damage to a home or commercial building. This is because these pests eat wood, which causes the structure to weaken. Termites can chew through any material that contains cellulose, including plants, timbers, lumber and wood products, cardboard, paper, and even some thin metals. In fact, some types of termites can even destroy concrete.
Swarmers of eastern subterranean termites are translucent in color and have two pairs of wings that are equal in length. When at rest, the wings are held flat against their backs. In contrast, the wings of ant colonies are often spread apart at different angles. Additionally, swarmer termites have straight antennae.
The majority of a termite population is made up of workers, who are sterile and blind. These termites occupy the lowest class of the colony and are responsible for building tunnels, searching for food, and cleaning up waste. In addition, these workers also tend to swarm after rainstorms. Drywood termite pseudergates are a bit more difficult to tell apart from true workers, because they don’t have wings and eyes and their bodies are soft. However, they do have short legs, small mandibles, and straight antennae.