Termite season is just around the corner, and with the unusually warm weather Tennessee has been experiencing lately, it may come sooner than expected! With the coming of spring, many subterranean termite colonies will move back towards the surface and begin feeding, reproducing, and expanding their nests.
Due to their rapid growth, it often becomes necessary for termite colonies to split off and start new satellite colonies. However, because termite workers cannot reproduce, the queen of a colony must produce a special type of winged alates, also known as swarmers. These swarmers are often the first sign of termite activity in an area, and they can cause major problems if not dealt with.
So the question is: What are swarmers? And what does it mean if you see them around your home?
Termite swarmers are the reproductive members of the colony. Though their appearance can vary slightly based upon species, they are usually beige, black or cream in color, and have two prominent sets of wings. Though distinguishing them from regular termites is quite easy, it is important to note that ants also produce similar looking swarmers to expand their nests, and these can sometimes be mixed up. The best way to distinguish the two is by observing their wings. Most ant swarmer species have two sets of unequally long wings, while termite swarmers have symmetrical wing sets.
During the early spring, termite colonies from all over will release swarmers to congregate in mass to reproduce. Oftentimes, colonies in a local area will have synchronized swarmer production, and thus a mass of tens of thousands of swarmers can gather in an area. These swarmers will mate with one another, lose their wings, and then establish a new colony within a certain proximity of the home nest.
The time of day in which termite swarming occurs varies from species to species, however as a general rule most native subterranean termite species swarm during the day. Thus homeowners may start to spot large congregations of winged swarmers. Like many other flying insects, termite swarmers are attracted to light sources, and thus you may notice them close to any lamps, windows, or exterior lighting. They can appear by the tens of thousands or just a few depending on the size of their colony.
Once the swarmers have established a new nest, this nest will send out its own workers to gather food and expand the nest. Since termites feed on cellulosic (wood based) material, the new colonies may seek out and infest homes, sheds, and other structures. This can sometimes catch homeowners off guard, as the nest will seemingly appear out of nowhere.
If homeowners see swarmers around their property, should they be concerned about possible damage?
Fortunately, termite swarmers themselves cannot cause direct damage to your home. These pests function only for reproduction, and thus they do not have the necessary bacteria to digest cellulose. However, while the swarmers cannot cause problems, the colonies they create certainly have the capacity to do so.
Spotting termite swarmers around your home can tell you two things for certain. Firstly, there are active termite colonies near to your property. Secondly, there will soon be new colonies established around the local area, and these could be a potential threat to your home.
If you are noticing termite swarmers, you should consider calling in a licensed pest control company to inspect and treat your home. The fact is, a termite infestation can be a destructive, frustration, and costly problem. The longer you wait to deal with the threat, the more its damage will be compounded.
Due to this, homeowners should ensure that their homes are protected from pest threats before the termite season begins.
Ask yourself this question: “What type of termite protection do I have on my home?”
If you don’t have an answer or have concerns about the protection of your home, Volunteer-Rid-A-Pest is here to help!
In our 48 years of experience in the pest industry, we have found that a thorough inspection is critical to formulating a safe, effective treatment plan for your home. Due to this, we offer consultations and a 58-Point Pest Analysis FREE of charge! We will identify pest problems in your home, create a targeted treatment plan, and eliminate pest populations COMPLETELY!
So make termite problems a thing of the past, call us TODAY at 423-698-7205 OR 423-472-7736 to schedule your FREE inspection or treatment!
