WHAT THEY ARE: Swarmers are the winged reproductive members of termite and ant colonies. They are not strong flyers. Most land within a block or two of where they emerged, although they can be blown by the wind much further. After landing, they lose their wings, pair up, and then begin searching for a suitable place to start a new colony.

TIMING: the exact time when termites swarm varies year to year depending on weather, but sometime soon winged termites will start emerging from their nests in large numbers. Most swarmers will emerge after a rain as temperatures begin to warm. A colony may send them out in one big burst, or in smaller numbers over several weeks. And each colony may vary a little as to when they send them out. For instance, if a colony is in a warmer spot, such as near a heater, it may send out swarmers weeks or even months before a colony located outdoors in a cooler area.

THEIR SIGNIFICANCE: A termite colony does not start producing swarmers usually until its 4th year or later, so finding swarmers indicates the colony is already mature and has been around for a while. But sometimes part of a mature colony moves into a home and starts producing swarmers much sooner. One or two swarmers may fly in through an open door or window, but if you find more than that indoors or on a porch, it is a sign you probably have a problem. You need to call us right away for an inspection to determine what should be done to prevent these wood-eating pests from feasting on your home.