How to Get Rid of Flying Termites
Flying termites are the reproductive stage of a colony that is already established somewhere nearby. Here is how to identify them and what to do next.
The swarmers are a warning, not the damage
Known as silent destroyers, termites can go unnoticed while they infest a home for years. Over that time they cause damage to the house and to the property around it.
A swarm of flying termites can put 50,000 insects in the air at one time, though generally only around 10% of them successfully find a mate and start a new colony. So how do you keep them from infesting your home?
What is a winged termite?
Winged termites are commonly known as alates or swarmers. They are subterranean termites in the reproductive stage, and their whole purpose is to fly away from the colony, mate, and form new colonies.
It typically takes a colony three to five years to mature before it produces swarmers. When the colony starts to feel overcrowded or short on food, both male and female swarmers leave. They reproduce and lose their wings before finding soil to build a new colony in. If there is no soil to burrow into, they dehydrate and die within the first few hours.
What do flying termites look like?
Knowing which termite you are dealing with matters, so it is worth a close look. In general, termites with wings have a straight waist and run about 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch long. They are usually dark brown or black, with linear antennae that can be light, dark brown, or black. They carry two pairs of translucent white wings, and all four wings are equal in size and length.
Termites live in large colonies and prefer moist, damp soil or wood. The wood and hollowed trees they live in are also their food source. Most termites live only a few years, while queen termites have been known to live up to 50 years.
Signs of a termite problem
Flying termite swarms are a warning sign of an infestation. If you see winged termites in your home, or just the shed wings, you may have a problem.
- The wood around your home sounds hollow.
- Mud tubes run up the foundation of your home.
- Small holes and wood shavings appear around trees.
- There is wood damage on the exterior of your home.
- Wood stumps on your property are hollowed out.
- Paint around your home is uneven or bubbling.
Another tell-tale sign of a termite infestation is termite droppings, known as frass. Termites do not leave droppings inside the colony nest. They create holes in the wood and push the droppings out instead. Depending on the wood the termites are eating, the pellets range in color from light brown to black. They are oval-shaped with rounded ends and resemble pepper, dirt, or sawdust.
Our full walkthrough of the signs of termites covers what each of these looks like in person.
Flying termites vs. flying ants
Swarmers are often mistaken for flying ants, but each has its own distinct physical and behavioral characteristics.
Waist and antennae
Flying ants have a small waist that resembles an hourglass, and their antennae bend at an angle. Termites have a straight body and straight antennae.
Wing size
Both insects have two pairs of wings. The termite’s four wings are equal in size and length, while the flying ant’s front wings are longer than the back pair.
Wing color
Wing color separates them too. Termite wings are a white translucent color, while flying ant wings are brown.
We compare the two insects head to head in ants vs. termites.
Why and when termites swarm
Winged termites are a nuisance and a worry, but the swarmers themselves do not cause structural damage. What they do is point to a colony near your home or yard.
Termite swarmers are sent out of the colony to reproduce and form new colonies nearby. Termites typically swarm during the day, and a swarm lasts 30-40 minutes. You will often see them near warm, damp areas in your home or around any light source.
Termites swarm at least once a year, beginning in March or whenever the weather turns warm and humid. The best time to take flight is after a good rain, because the water softens the soil and makes burrowing easier. Drywood termites and the species R. hageni swarm during late summer or autumn instead.
In cooler climates termites still swarm, but they are most likely to be drawn to the warmth of your home, which is not a good sign. For more on swarm timing, see when termites swarm and how long swarms last.
How to get rid of flying termites
Seeing termite swarms usually means there is an active colony near your home or property. These are the methods homeowners reach for first.
Boric acid
Boric acid is one of the more common ways to go after termites. It kills them by causing dehydration and shutting down their nervous system. Apply it in the cracks and holes in the floor, wall, or ceiling where the insects are active, following the directions on the product label.
Bug zappers
Termites are attracted to light, so a bug zapper placed in or just outside your home will draw in and kill flying termites. This helps most when swarmers have already made it indoors.
Cardboard traps
Cardboard traps are another option, though not a very effective one. They will not capture every termite in the colony. To build one, wet two pieces of cardboard and stack them on top of each other. The cellulose attracts termites, which get trapped between the two pieces. Burn the cardboard once you have captured them.
Orange oil spray
Orange oil is a natural method for getting rid of termites. Extracted from orange rinds, it kills termites on contact when combined with D-limonene, breaking down the termite’s exoskeleton and destroying eggs.
None of these reach the colony itself. They handle the swarmers you can see. Removing the colony is what professional termite control is for.
Helpful flying termite prevention tips
There are several ways to keep flying termites from ever getting inside your home.
- Close off entry points
Eliminate every potential entry point into the home, checking floors, walls, and ceilings for gaps a swarmer could slip through.
- Put a barrier treatment in place
If you already have an infestation, termite bait and a barrier treatment are the usual answer. One of the most effective barrier options is trenching: a 4-6 inch trench is dug around the home’s foundation, an undetectable termiticide solution goes in, and the trench is covered. Termites burrowing through that soil pass through the termiticide as they travel.
- Clear the wood off your yard
Move stored wood away from the house and push garden mulch back from the foundation. Remove tree stumps, fallen trees, and leaf debris. Without that material, termites have far less reason to build near your home. Introducing nematodes, a type of worm, can also help.
- Cut the moisture
Moisture attracts termites, so make sure there are no leaks, drainage issues, or excessive condensation around the property.
Swarmers indoors mean the colony is already close
If flying termites or shed wings are turning up inside the house, the next step is an inspection that finds the colony feeding them.
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