What On Earth Is A Termite Swarmer?

Have you found little silver winged insects crawling all over the walls and window sills of your Macon Georgia home? Are their wings the same size on both sides, and are their bodies pill shaped? I’m sorry to tell you this, but you have termites. Notice I didn’t say, “you’re about to have termites.” If you have these little bugs crawling around inside your home, you’re in some trouble.

What do swarmers mean?

Swarmers are reproductive termites. They do not eat the wood of your home. But before you wipe the back of your hand across your forehead in relief, you’re going to want to know these simple facts.

  • Swarmers do not fly very far. They are actually quite horrible flyers. If they travel more than a hundred yards it is only because the wind caught them. That means these swarmers came from somewhere close. It might be a neighbor’s house. It might be a tree or hole near your property. But it is more likely that they came from within your own walls.
  • There is more bad news. Swarmers are evidence of a mature colony. If the colony is living and feeding within your walls it has been there for a few years. And subterranean termites can do a ton of damage in that amount of time.
  • Just as termites can eat away at your home without you knowing, swarmers can avoid your detection. These swarms can come and go quickly, sometimes lasting only a few short hours. If this has happened, you may find evidence of it. These reproductives lose their wings after mating, and you will find these gossamer wings laying around. If you discover wings, call a professional pest control company immediately. A mature subterranean termite colony is not something you should ever take lightly.
  • If those swarmers are from a neighbor’s house or the nearby woods, it is still not cause to relax. Though swarmers don’t eat wood or build mud tubes, their offspring will. Those male and female termites have only one thing on their mind: making babies.

The climate in Georgia is perfect for termites. Don’t risk your home to termites. If you live in Georgia you’re in the coverage area of Active Pest Control–your Macon termite exterminators. They have the tools to safely, and economically, protect your property from termites–not after the damage is done–but before they can even get inside and start eating paths through your support beams. You’ve put a lot of money into your property, it just makes sense to protect your investment.