A pest that feeds off of the wood that’s inside of your home, termites can be a major pest problem for many. There are two primary types of termites that are found in the U.S. – the worker and the swarmer. Workers are found in the depths of infested wood, while swarmers are responsible for the reproduction cycle of the colony.
Termites can be found year-round in many parts of the country, but termite swarm season is most prevalent in March through June in the Virginia area. They’re more active on very warm days or when there has been rainfall. While these swarms might seem a bit gross and scary, they’re actually a very common occurrence when termites are trying to survive and thrive.
A swarm of termites is essentially the moment that the swarmers decide to venture out of their nest. During this period of time, they may escape through different cracks and gaps in your walls or foundation. Their goal is to expand their colony after it has reached a certain size. Weather conditions have to be optimal in order for termites to swarm.
If you see a swarm of termites, you likely have a pretty established infestation. When a termite colony is just getting started, all of these insects will stay inside of their nest. It isn’t until they feel that they’ve reached maximum capacity do they think it’s a good idea to develop a new nest somewhere nearby. If you’re not home during the swarm, you may return to find different signs of termite infestation, such as pieces of wings on windowsills and other surfaces.
The process of swarming begins when the female termites in a colony release their mating pheromones. This initiates the process of getting male swarmers to fly and move more actively. Together, their goal is to reproduce and expand their colony. Each termite colony can have hundreds or even thousands of swarmers as part of their community. Also known as alates, their sole purpose is reproduction and expansion.
It’s usually once per year that termite swarmers fly out of their nest. You can expect to see hundreds or thousands of the swarmers, eager to expand and reproduce. Keep in mind, the workers remain behind. While it might look like a nest of termites is extinguishing itself by having so many termites leave, there are more to be found at the original site of the problem. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring in a professional to help you solve your termite problem. It’s imperative that you find the source of the infestation so it can be removed, but you should also prevent the other termites from being able to develop a new colony.
It’s usually once per year that termite swarmers fly out of their nest. You can expect to see hundreds or thousands of the swarmers, eager to expand and reproduce. Keep in mind, the workers remain behind. While it might look like a nest of termites is extinguishing itself by having so many termites leave, there are more to be found at the original site of the problem. That’s why it’s a good idea to bring in a professional to help you solve your termite problem. It’s imperative that you find the source of the infestation so it can be removed, but you should also prevent the other termites from being able to develop a new colony.
Termite swarmers are active year-round in Virginia, but they become a lot more active between the months of March through June. This is when the weather is optimal for swarming. Termites tend to swarm a lot less when it’s very cold out. Ideally, the temperature outside should be around 70 degrees to initiate a swarm, and the last freeze should have already taken place.
Try to stay calm if you see a swarm of termites in your home. This occurrence can be scary and overwhelming, but taking the appropriate steps will help you address your infestation. The actual termite swarm will last around 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the number of termites in the colony. They will be most active around light sources, like windows or doors. Rest assured, if the termites can’t find a source of soil within a few hours, they’ll die off from dehydration.
Swarmer termites aren’t the type of termite that will chew up your home, so don’t worry about protecting the integrity of the space that you’re in when swarms occur. Try to stay calm, thinking of a way that you can contain the termites for the time being. Try to eliminate their escape holes in order to speed up their dying process. If you have insect spray on hand that will be effective for termites, use it. However, be very careful. Many bug sprays contain chemicals that can be very harmful to humans.
If you have experienced a termite swarm or suspect that you have termites on your property, reach out to PestNow of Central Virginia. We are a veteran-owned and operated local business that offers a variety of professional pest-control services throughout the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Northern Neck areas. We can provide you with a thorough termite inspection, offering different forms of termite control if we find something that needs to be addressed.
