Termite Soldier

It’s that special time of the year when the flowers are in bloom, children become restless for the last day of school and termites swarm like nobody’s business. but why do termites swarm? When do they swarm? And how can you spot if termites have invaded your home?

1) Why do they swarm? Think of it like your children getting married and moving away to start a home of their own. Termites swarm when reproductive male and female leave the colony to start a colony of their own. However, unlike your kids who moved to Northern Idaho, termites don’t always travel that far. In fact researchers say that there can find 12 to 15 termite colonies in one acre. Once the termites have swarmed they shed their wings and never fly again.

Swarming Termites

2) When do termites swarm? Termites can begin swarming as early as January and continue doing so into June. A lot depends on the weather, which in Texas can be unpredictable. As to the time of day that termites swarm, morning to mid-morning is usually the time you will see the little suckers flying about. However, most people are at work during these times and often have to rely on the signs termites leave behind to identify if they have problems. Which leads us to number three…

3) How can you tell if termites are invading your home? There are several different warning signs that will let you know if termites have swarmed or if you have any pre-existing problems. Be on the lookout for these indicators:

• There are those discarded wings we spoke about earlier. You may see these on or around windowsills, doors, bath tubs or sinks.
• Mud tubes along the foundation and on walls both inside and outside your home. These are created by termites for protection.
• Small holes in wood or wood that looks hollowed out. You may also see fecal pellets near this damaged wood.
• Crumbling drywall and sagging doors or floors.

Termite Tubes

In the end, if you feel that termites are a problem, the best course of action is to call a pest control professional and have them assess the situation.