Termite Swarming 101

Without proper defense, termites can damage a home 365 days of the year. Termites are most visible to homeowners when they're swarming, which describes the act of hundreds to thousands of winged reproductive termites leaving the nest in swarms to create a new colony. The swarming usually lasts less than an hour, so it's very likely you'll never even see it. The winged reproductives themselves look quite a bit like flying ants, for which they are often mistaken.

Termite swarmers shed their wings after flight and will never fly again. A telltale sign of a termite swarm are the hundreds of discarded wings found on and around windowsills. That's because termites swarming indoors will attempt to get outside by flying toward light, usually around windows and doors.

While swarming used to be a seasonal occurrence, pest control professionals have noted that the concept of a termite "swarm season" may be a thing of the past. As such, the pressure homes face from termites is a 365-day a year problem. In fact, you could have an active termite infestation in your home and never see a swarm. Contact your pest control professional to learn more about termite prevention for your home.