Do you notice a lot of discarded insect wings when sweeping the floor? Do you also spot some wings near your doors and windowsills? Then it is likely that they’re wings of termite swarmers.

Termite swarmers are young winged termites that can be male or female. You often see them during springtime, as they come out from their nest. Their main goal during this season is to mate and build colonies in different locations.

Though they do not pose direct physical harm to humans, they are a sign of a serious underlying problem.

Swarmers can indicate a termite infestation.

Experts caution homeowners to take this matter seriously. Otherwise, you may risk losing serious amounts of money to structural damage in your home.

But the question now is what should you do if you see these termite swarmers? Continue reading below for the answers.

The Vacuum is Your Friend

One of the first things you can do if you see discarded wings of termite swarmers is to vacuum them. Even if you see actual swarmers crawling on the floor, don’t hesitate to vacuum them as well.

Once you trap them inside the vacuum, they will eventually die. But don’t throw them immediately into the garbage can. Instead, get a few samples of the termites and wings for further identification.

This is a crucial step in case professional extermination is necessary. Also, termites and ants both have wings. Hence, homeowners can easily confuse the two.

We will discuss more on the differences between termites and ants later.

Zap Those Termite Swarmers

Termite swarmers can be resilient. Sometimes, there are too many of them that your vacuuming efforts seem futile. Thus, consider investing in an indoor bug zapper.

Identify the key areas in your home where the swarmers love to fly around. As we mentioned earlier, they frequent doors and windowsills.

After identifying the specific areas, place the bug zapper in a dark portion of the room. The light from the zapper will attract the swarmers, leading to their electrocution.

Cover Possible Entry Points

Another important remedy is to cover all possible entry points. Check your old doors and windows for spaces that need some sealing. If you see any problems that require caulking, weather stripping, or a complete replacement, act upon them immediately.

Block the Lights

Since termites love the light, consider turning off some of your lighting fixtures. Sometimes, you may leave some lights on unknowingly.

Thus, make it a habit to turn on only the lights that you need. If you can do away with illuminating a couple of areas, do so. Furthermore, replace your old curtains and switch to block-out curtains.

This will keep the indoor light from passing through the windows.

Tips to Prevent Termite Infestation

Confirming the presence of swarmers means that termites may already be eating up the foundations of your home. But as the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Thus, protect your home by keeping termites away from the get-go.

Start by trimming the shrubs around your house. You want to create at least 12 inches of space between the shrubbery and your exterior wall. Doing so will improve air circulation in these spaces.

In turn, wet and damp areas will dry up faster. It is the scent of moist wood that attracts termites.

Another tip is to check the condition of your HVAC system. You want to ensure that there are no condensation issues with your units.

Do not stock firewood close to your house.  Move them as far as you can. Furthermore, remove any logs, trees, and stumps that showcase heart rot.

You also want to go up to your roof and check the condition of your gutters. Make sure that water is flowing freely along your gutters. Scrape out any leaves and debris that may cause dampness.

And if there are any leaks in your property, address them immediately.

When to Call an Exterminator

We mentioned earlier that you may mistake a termite from an ant. Be mindful that distinguishing termites from ants can be tricky. Both insects share some similarities.

Both insects have two pairs of wings. However, if you compare them closely, the wings of termites have equal lengths. On the other hand, ant wings are larger in the front compared to the back.

Since spotting the differences can be challenging, it is best to call a professional termite expert who can inspect and identify the insect wings and droppings that you see. During a termite inspection, the exterminator will look for more evidence of swarmers.

They will also search for mud tubes and mud in key construction joints. Also, they will check the different types of wood in your landscape. Additionally, they will check for wood damage around your house.

A reliable exterminator also uses termite baiting systems to lure termites into eating toxic bait.

Also, there are tell-tale signs of a possible termite infestation. Check underneath your wooden items and see if there are piles of sawdust and droppings. Check the walls of your house and listen for any clicking sounds.

Examine your drywall for tiny holes. Head on to your basement and check if there are mud tunnels around the area. If these signs are present, then it’s time to call for professional termite control.

The Limitations of DIY Termite Control

It is quite unfortunate that some homeowners opt to handle termite infestation in the DIY way. Using bug sprays is good, but it will not address the root of the problem. You need to destroy the termite colony.

The problem with termite infestation involves locating the termite colonies. Unfortunately, most of the entry points are hard to access. Hence, you need a professional who has the right tools for tracking down termites.

The pros use powerful drills, metal rods, and spray tanks to locate and treat the infestation.

Get Rid of Those Termites, Today!

Knowing what to do upon the first sight of termite swarmers is essential for any homeowner. But when the infestation becomes too much to handle, we will gladly step in and give a helping hand. Connect with us and enjoy our top-notch termite control services.

We offer a comprehensive line-up of services from termite inspection to extermination. We can get rid of drywood termite swarmers, subterranean termite swarmers, and other kinds of termites. Request a free estimate and let’s start working on those termites, today!

• Signs of termites
• Termite Control
• Termite Prevention
• Termite Swarms