If you are like most homeowners, the last thing that you want to find in your home is a colony of termites. One of the best ways to keep your home protected from termites is to know the signs of termite activity so that you can avoid them in the first place. One of the signs of termite activity are termite swarmers. A-Tex Pest Management is here to talk all about termite swarmers and what time of the year you are more than likely going to see them around your home.
What are the Characteristics of Termite Swarmers?
Some people have never seen termite swarmers. If this is you, you may not know what you’re looking for. Often, termite swarmers get confused with flying ants because they look so similar. Swarming termites are different from flying ants for many reasons. Some of the differences come from the way that they look. Rather than having a pinched waist like flying ants, termites swarmers have a straight body. They also have two sets of wings that are the same size while flying ants have two sets of wings that are different sizes. Another subtle difference between termites and flying ants is their antennas. Ants have a bend in their antenna and termite swarmers have straight antennas.
Why Triggers Swarming in Termites?
The whole reason that termites swarm is because they are needing to expand their colony and find a new food source. Swarming termites around your windows and doors is one of the first signs that you have a termite problem on your hands. If you see them swarming around your home, there is a good chance that they will settle down in that area. While there are some factors that can play a role in the time of year that termites swarm, such as the termite species, for the most part it happens in late winter to early spring. When you hear people reference swarming season for termites, they are talking about the short season in which these insects are looking for a new home. It is an incredibly short window of time.
How to Avoid Termite Swarmers
While it would be nice to be able to avoid these swarmers, it isn’t realistic. What is realistic for homeowners is to avoid termite activity and infestation with some preventative steps.
– Make sure no wood to soil contact is found around your home
– Seal any cracks in your foundation
– Clean your gutters regularly to avoid any debris buildup
– Avoid putting mulch within 2 feet of your home
– Get rid of any old and decaying wood on your property
Termite Pest Inspections, Treatment, Control, Removal & More in Austin, Round Rock, Leander, Pflugerville & Cedar Park Texas
If you have noticed that there is some termite activity on your property and around your home, don’t hesitate to call on the experts at A-Tex Pest Management to come take care of the problem. It is vital that you act quickly whenever termites are involved as they can cause significant damage in a short period of time. Call us today!
