How Bad Is It To See Flying Termites Around My Wayne Home?
4/15/2023
Termites are a known pest in the Wayne, PA, area; they can cause major damage to wooden structures, most importantly, homes. However, you see flying termites less often.
So what does it mean if you start to see flying termites around your property? Is this something to worry about? What can you do to reduce your risk of dealing with a termite infestation? Let’s take a look at pest control in Wayne and how you can resolve your termite problems with help from Resolution Pest.
What Are Flying Termites?
The most common termites in Wayne are subterranean termites. There are three castes of termites; workers, soldiers, and swarmers, also called alates. The swarmers are the only ones with wings, so any flying termites you see are swarmers. These three castes have several distinctions. Subterranean worker termites are usually between 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch long. Their bodies are a creamy white color. The workers eat all the wood and are responsible for feeding the colony. Subterranean termite soldiers are about a 1/4 of an inch long and have large mandibles on the front of their heads. Their job is to defend the workers and protect the colony from predators and other threats. Subterranean termite swarmers are usually brown or black in color with bodies that average between 3/8 and 1/2 inches long. They also have two sets of wings. Swarmers are the reproductive members of a termite colony. They usually shed their wings after mating.
If you are still determining whether it is a termite, you should contact a termite expert near you.
Do Termite Swarmers Mean I Have Termites?
If you start to see the wings of swarmers lying around your house, such as on windowsills or doorsteps, this can be one of the first signs of termites inside your house or in your yard. Swarmers are sometimes sent out from their original colony to form new colonies elsewhere. Seeing swarmers or their leftover wings around your house doesn’t always mean that you have termites, but you shouldn’t leave it up to chance. Make sure to search your home thoroughly, especially areas like attics and basements, where people rarely tend to go.
What Attracts Termites To Homes?
Termites can be attracted to your home by a variety of factors, including moisture, warmth, wooden debris or materials near the house, or wooden parts of your house that are in contact with the ground. Once inside your home, termites can cause expensive and irreparable damage. Homeowners lose more than 5 billion dollars every year to termite damage in the United States alone. It’s crucial that you take steps to prevent termites from getting access to your home. Here are a few steps you implement toward that end:
- Reduce humidity in areas of your house that you have not already ventilated.
- Don’t bury lumber or wood scraps in your yard.
- Keep firewood off the ground and away from your house.
- Trim hedges or bushes that grow near your house’s foundation.
- Replace damaged wood and use pressure-treated wood for areas where the wood has contact with the soil.
All these are helpful precautions, but if you see active termites, it’s time to call the Wayne termite control professionals.
How Do I Get Rid Of Winged Termites Around My House?
You don't need to panic when you find yourself with a termite problem. Our pros at Resolution Pest are here to help. We are a family-owned and operated company located in Wayne, PA. We’ve serviced the area for years, keeping your homes, workspaces, and schools pest free. We offer free inspections and emergency services to accommodate the time-sensitive needs of our valued customers. Contact Resolution Pest today!
