Winged termites, also known as swarmers, don't bite and aren't harmful to humans or pets, but they signal a potential termite issue that can lead to significant property damage. Ignoring their presence can exacerbate the problem, resulting in severe structural damage over time.
Seeing flying termites in your house could mean that a mature termite colony is present in or near your home. These termites are in their reproductive stage and are looking to establish new colonies, which could lead to significant structural damage if left unchecked.
Vacuuming: If you notice flying termites inside the house, quickly vacuum them up and dump the contents into an outside trashcan. Reduce attractants: Turn off exterior lights at night and close curtains to minimize light attraction. Keep your door shut or use screens to prevent flying termites from getting inside.
Although termite soldiers have the ability to bite humans, they rarely do. If you experience a termite bite, it is unlikely you will have anything more than mild discomfort, such as itching or redness of the skin. In fact, termites have tiny jaws, so getting bit won't even leave a mark.
Not unless you are unbothered when insects crawl all over your body as you sleep, you can go ahead and sleep on a bed with termites. This is, however, not recommended even though termites are not considered to cause direct harm or be dangerous to humans.
Termites can also be harmful to health as they can cause a fungal infection known as Sick Building Syndrome, or SBS, where occupants experience acute health and discomfort issues such as chronic headaches. It's possible that fungi dispersed by termites lead to SBS.
Why Do They Suddenly Appear? The sudden emergence of flying termites is typically associated with conducive breeding conditions, primarily dictated by the weather. These conditions include warm temperatures and high humidity, usually after rain.
Flying termites don't live for long after they have taken flight, typically remaining aloft for about an hour. After that, their wings fall off, they plummet to the ground, and then perish due to termite-eating critters. However, don't let the fact that flying termites don't last more than a day put you at ease.
Attraction to Light
Some species of termites swarm late in the afternoon and early evening. Like most nocturnal insects, the pests will be drawn to light sources around the home, such as porch lamps, motion lights, and light reflected from inside. It is common to see swarms of alates around utility lights, as well.
Yes, termites can bite humans and animals, but they rarely do. Unlike blood-sucking fleas, mosquitoes, or bed bugs, they don't actively seek out humans.
Here is how to get rid of flying termites in-house naturally: Orange Oil: Termites hate this stuff. Mix some with water in a spray bottle and apply it to affected areas. The strong citrus scent repels termites, and the oil can even kill them on contact.
If you suspect or see evidence of termites, your best bet is to contact an exterminator immediately. Since routine maintenance is the homeowner's responsibility and termites aren't a covered peril, your homeowners insurance won't cover termite treatment.
If you're willing to put up with these insects crawling in your curtains and staining them with their excrement, this pest problem will go away on its own. Termites will not go away on their own. We bet you know why. While many pests need to find a food source inside your home in order to stay, termites do not.
Bug Zappers
Termites are attracted to light, so place a bug zapper in or near the outside of your home to attract and kill flying termites. This is effective when flying termites manage to get inside your home.
Termites may suddenly appear in homes due to various reasons, such as moisture problems, wood-to-ground contact, neighboring termite colonies, or termite swarming events. Understanding these causes can help prevent infestations.
A flying termite nest, often referred to as a colony, is usually hidden in walls, foundations, or wooden structures. You might not see the nest itself but may notice flying termites, also known as alates, emerging from cracks or holes in wood.
Maribou storks, yellow-rumped caciques, Egyptian geese, doves, spotted eagle owls, toto toucans, coucals and chickens will hunt and peck termites while they're on the ground. Other bird species will catch termites in the air as they swarm. This includes sparrows, black phoebes, swallows, swifts, starlings and weavers.
Thus, neem oil for termites can be the best natural termite killer and help you get rid of termites permanently from your wooden structures. If you are wondering how to do neem oil treatment for termites, simply inject it inside the wooden structures.
A bug zapper attracts and electrocutes flying termites, offering a quick and effective extermination method.
Risks Associated with Winged Termites
Winged termites, also known as swarmers, don't bite and aren't harmful to humans or pets, but they signal a potential termite issue that can lead to significant property damage. Ignoring their presence can exacerbate the problem, resulting in severe structural damage over time.
The termites that swarm inside a structure and can't get out will quickly die from lack of available moisture. A treatment for swarming termites doesn't need to be done since treatment for a swarm is not very effective and the activity stops when all swarmers have been released.
Unlike cockroaches, termites are notorious for their ability to cause extensive structural damage to homes, often undetected for long periods. The rate at which they inflict destruction can vary, typically within 3 to 15 years, depending on factors such as termite colony size and the age of the structure.
Flying termites, sometimes mistaken for flying ants, are a warning sign of a potential termite infestation in your home. Knowing how to spot their distinguishing features is crucial for early detection and effective control.
If nothing else suits you, go and try the successful heat treatment to control termites at home. Just use hot air or increase the temperature of the infected area up to 120 degrees and maintain it for half an hour. This much heat for this much time will kill the termites instantly.
Look for pencil-thick to inch-wide tunnels on your home's foundation and crawl-space walls. These tubes shelter subterranean termites as they travel between their nest and food source. If you break open these tubes and see cream-colored insects, it's a clear sign of an active infestation.