Flying Termites – What do they look like?

As the season changes from winter into spring and summer, and the humidity levels begin to rise, so does the increased risk of a termite infestation within your home. Subterranean termites build colonies underground to infiltrate your property and cause massive destruction, resulting in more damage to homes in Australia than fire, floods, and storms combined. Known as the ‘silent destroyers’, termites can hide away for years, quietly munching away at your much-loved home. Given the chance, the subterranean termite will eat your home to the ground.

SPOTTING FLYING TERMITES: AN EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

One key factor to watch for regarding a termite infestation is the presence of winged termites swarming in large clusters. A common trigger for termite swarms is the combination of increasing temperature with heavy rainfall.

If you notice swarms of flying termites around your home, it should alert you to two potential dangers: you might already have an existing termite issue, or your home is at risk from a possible termite infestation.

If you spot flying termites around your property, call a professional termite inspector immediately.

CAN TERMITES FLY?

Many homeowners ask, “Can termites fly?” Yes, certain termites can fly, but only during specific phases of their life cycle. Not all termites in a colony have wings or the ability to fly. The flying termites you see are the reproductive caste, also known as alates or swarmers. These are the future kings and queens who will establish new colonies.

For those wondering, “Do termites fly?” – they don’t fly permanently. After their initial or “nuptial flight,” they shed their wings and begin establishing a new colony underground. Suppose you find discarded wings around your home, particularly near windowsills or light fixtures. In that case, this strongly indicates that winged termites have already entered your property and are now seeking places to start new colonies.

WHAT DO FLYING TERMITES LOOK LIKE?

Flying termites (also known as winged termites) are usually light gold in colour and typically have six legs. They have two tiny antennae, which are often straight with a slight curve to them, and can normally be identified by their thick body, which is made of only one part. They have two large, translucent wings on either side of their body, sometimes as large as 3 centimetres per wing, and have a veiny appearance.

DO TERMITES HAVE WINGS? UNDERSTANDING TERMITE BIOLOGY

Many people wonder, “Do termites have wings?” The answer is yes, but not all termites. Within a colony, only certain termites develop wings and can fly. These winged termites are the reproductive members of the colony, often called “alates” or swarmers. They’re the future kings and queens responsible for starting new colonies.

The winged termite can be found all over Australia. Warm conditions are ideal for termite colonies as they prefer an average 25-28 degrees temperature. In Australia, as the summer season approaches, the tropical downpours create the perfect breeding ground for termites. A termite colony consists of three groups, and the subterranean termite is the type that can develop wings and fly. This group is the only one able to develop sexually and become the future queens and kings of next season’s termite colonies.

During the hottest hour of the day, termites will fly out of their colony in the millions. While many think termites are strictly ground pests, all subterranean termites begin life by flying from their colony. Those that don’t become future kings and queens eventually lose their wings to become worker or soldier termites.

A swarm of flying termites heading towards your house has the potential to land 50,000 termites at one time. However, only about 10 percent of those termites will successfully find a mate and start a new colony.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FLYING ANTS AND FLYING TERMITES?

Flying termites are commonly mistaken for flying ants. Although they appear similar in size, shape, and colour at first glance, there are some notable differences to watch for. The main difference between a flying termite and a flying ant is in the wings. All four wings on the termite are of equal length and width, whereas the two top wings on the flying ant are usually double the size of the bottom two wings. The antennae of the ant bend at a 90-degree angle, unlike the flying termite, which has a straight antenna with a very slight bend at the end.

Ants are darker in colour than termites, usually light beige/golden with translucent, veiny wings. The body of the flying termite is slightly bigger than the flying ant by around 2-3 millimetres and consists of only two parts: the head and body, as opposed to ants, which are divided into three parts – head, body, and tail.

ARE FLYING TERMITES ATTRACTED TO LIGHT?

Like most flying insects and pests, termites are attracted to all light sources. They are particularly drawn to direct lighting, and you may see black flying termites in the millions swarming around light sources. They’ll often enter a home and sometimes fly down through downlights by the thousands.

This can be quite distressing for the homeowner, but should you find yourself in this situation, the best action is to turn off all your lights (including any outside lighting), open all your doors and windows, and the termites should fly out of your home as quickly as they entered it.

The worst possible thing you can do is attack the termites with a can of insect spray, as it’s pointless and wastes precious time. You want to get the termites out of the house as quickly as possible before they can drop their wings.

HOW ARE FLYING TERMITES TREATED?

The flying subterranean termite is very difficult to treat, and your best plan is one of defence. Protecting your house with a termite system and protection barrier will help prevent termites from burrowing underground and building a colony. Without this protection, termites can burrow underground and find a mate. Once the queen termite reproduces, she can lay over 30,000 eggs a day. At that rate, you could have a thriving colony under your house, and over one or two weeks, those termites will be in your home, causing massive destruction by quietly eating away at your property.

This nightmare scenario can easily be avoided by taking the necessary precautions and calling a trained pest control expert for a termite inspection and to install a perimeter termite barrier around your property.

HOW TO GET RID OF WINGED TERMITES: PROTECTING YOUR HOME

While there’s nothing you can do to stop flying termites from swarming onto your property, there are some precautions you can take to reduce the opportunities for a flying subterranean termite from flying into your house.

The first thing is to have screens installed on your windows and doors, making sure they stay free of holes and tears in the fabric.  It’s important to be aware of the amount of moisture in your home and do what you can to reduce those levels at all times. Termites absolutely thrive in water and damp areas and it’s very common for homeowners to discover termite issues during periods when they’ve had plumbing problems such as, bathroom leaks or for homes built on steep blocks up against high moisture areas.

If you haven’t fixed that broken washer tap for the past few months and a flying termite finds that moist soil and burrows down, you’ll have a potential termite colony building on the side of your house. Keeping mulch and any other untreated wood off the side of your house and ensuring that you keep basements and attics dry and well-ventilated are other ways of keeping flying termites from your house.

It’s also worth considering your outside lighting source which can be both negative and positive in relation to flying termites.  On the one hand the light source will attract termites but on the other, that in itself will alert you to the fact that termites are beginning to colonise and it’s time for you to get an inspection.

Keeping up good housekeeping and maintenance around the house all helps in the fight against termite infestations when combined with the recommended annual inspections and perimeter barrier protection.

FLYING TERMITES IN AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Australia’s climate makes it particularly susceptible to termite infestations. Winged termites are most active during spring and summer, especially after rainfall when humidity is high. In Queensland and northern regions, termite flies in houses are more common during the warmer months, while southern states might see them less frequently but still face significant risks.

If you notice termite flying activity around your property, acting quickly is crucial. Even if you don’t see obvious damage, the presence of winged termites indicates a mature colony nearby. When these reproductive termites shed their wings, you might notice small piles of discarded wings near windowsills, door frames, or light fixtures – another clear sign that you need professional intervention.

WHY YOU SHOULD WORK WITH PEST EX

Pest-Ex has provided termite treatment since 2006 and has more than 7,000 satisfied customers. We’re also:

• Fully insured and licensed
• Staffed by some of the most experienced and qualified controllers in the pest control industry
• Committed to using environmentally friendly products that are safe for local fauna and flora
• Flexible and able to work in residential, commercial, and industrial properties

Talk to Pest-Ex today for all your termite management and protection services – we look forward to hearing from you!

Our focus areas include Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tweed Heads & Logan.