Spotting a swarm of flying insects could be flying termites and is an immediate red flag for most homeowners, so you’re probably already on alert if you’re reading this article. Most of us know that a swarm in the air is the first sign of a serious flying termite infestation.
However, not all swarming insects are termites. You could also be looking at flying ants. Read on to learn how to identify the insects you’re seeing as either ants or termites.
Illustration of differences flying termite from a flying ant
Unique Flying Termite Features
If you’re dealing with termite swarmers, you should be able to take note of a few features that are unique to flying termites. For example:
Termites lose their wings, so you might see dropped wings around your home. This is especially true between March and November. Though termites are active throughout the entire year, the most appropriate definition of “termite season” takes place between spring and late fall.
If you notice damage to any of the wood surfaces in or around your home in addition to the above-mentioned features on the insects, you’re dealing with termites. Another tale-tell sign of termite infestation is sudden mud spots in your home or tunnels that appear under the surfaces of wood structures.
Flying Ant Featuresvs. Flying Termites
Let’s say you have not been able to identify termite features in the swarm of insects near your home. You might then be looking at flying ants. If this is the case, you should notice the following features.
Flying ants have tapered waists with a clear separation between the thorax and abdomen.
Flying ants have hard outer shells, similar to the armored appearance of non-flying ants.
Female flying ants lose their wings after mating while male flying ants die. However, you likely won’t find an abundance of flying ant wings laying around.
If these features are a little closer to what you’re seeing in the swarm, you have flying ants nearby. On one hand, this means that you’re safe from having your wood structures eaten through, but on the other hand, flying ants do burrow into wood surfaces to nest.
Whether you’re dealing with one of the many types of termites, flying termite swarms, or flying ants, it’s a good idea to have the issue dealt with before it becomes serious. Contacting a termite exterminator is your best bet if you want to get rid of pest swarms before they make their way into your home. Reach out to Peninsular Pest Control as soon as you can to schedule a visit from an experienced pest exterminator.
There are four main types of wood-destroying organisms in Florida. Subterranean termites, drywood termites, wood-destroying beetles and wood-destroying fungi. Unfortunately, all of these termites are problems for Florida homeowners. The Subterranean termites cause the most damage. Their colony can include millions of termites and the worker termites forage for food 24/7. Their food is the wood in your home: your floors, walls and ceilings.
One of the four types of termites in Florida
Termite Damage to homes
Drywood Termite Damage
Five million homes in the United States have termites every year and the damage caused is normally not covered by homeowners insurance. As a result, homeowners end up paying for the repair out of pocket.
Termite Bonds or Warranties offered by Pest Control companies usually cover the cost of any termite damage repairs. But, it’s important to know that not all of these warranties are the same.
At Peninsular Pest Control, our Warranty includes the cost of repairing any NEW termite or wood destroying insect damage. This includes an unlimited retreatment and repair guarantee of the structure and contents of the home. Additionaly, Peninsular continues to inspect the home annually.
Is the Peninsular Pest Control Termite Warranty transferrable?
YES. The Peninsular Pest Control Termite Warranty is transferrable to a new homeowner and is an added benefit to any property listing.
When it comes to Termite Infestation and Termite Control, a good offense is the best Termite defense. Contact the Best Termite Pest Control Company, the Critter Gitter for a free inspection. Our service technicians are bonded professionals, and will provide you with the treatment you need.
While termites in Florida are often noticed during swarming activity it’s important to know that termite season and termite colonies are always active. Proactive year-round treatment will reduce the potential for damage to your home and trees. Prevention vs. Damage Repair will save money in the long run.
What do termites look like?
Homeowners often think that because they don’t see termites swarming in the air, that it’s not termite season. This is a HUGE mistake. Termite colonies are active year-round and can enter a home from their subterranean colony at any time and do some serious damage. This invasion often occurs without the awareness of the homeowner.
“The termite problem is changing in Florida. With some invasive species spreading, we are entering a new norm in terms of potential termite damage” said Thomas Chouvenc, an assistant professor of urban entomology at the UF/IFAS Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center in Davie. Chouvenc specializes in termite biology and pest control. “Florida’s year-round, warm climate has allowed three invasive termite species to thrive, cause structural damage to our homes and property, while some species are now having a concerning impact on our urban tree canopy.”
It’s important to know that treatment for termites depends on which termite species is present. Knowing which type of termite is invading your property determines the type of treatment that will be most effective.
“Monitoring for termite activity and damage is a critical first step to early detection and preventing damage to trees and houses.”, Chouvenc said. “There are currently two primary ways to protect a structure against subterranean termites: baits or liquid termiticides.”
Liquid termiticides like Termidor® is one alternative for treating termites. A crucial advantage Termidor® has over many other products is that it doesn’t repel termites.
Termites are able to detect the older chemicals in the soil and stay away from them. That means the termites remain active and unaffected, still exploring the area and potentially looking for ways into your home.
Termites can’t detect Termidor® so, as they continue to forage through the soil, they unknowingly come into contact with Termidor®. Termidor® kills termites through contact and ingestion.
Formosan Termites in old oak trees, Jacksonville FL
Another option for termite treatment is Bait. Bait, if used properly, eliminates colonies which are able to feed on trees and property. The Sentricon® Always Active Termite Elimination System uses bait stations installed around the parameter of the home.
Sentricon® takes advantage of natural termite behavior. Worker termites constantly forage far and wide, looking for wood to feed their colony. When they find food, like the monitoring device in a Sentricon® bait station, they leave special scent trails to summon their nestmates to the food source.
Installation of the Sentricon® Always Active bait station.
This process is designed to kill the members of the colony, including the queen who is capable of laying millions of eggs in her lifetime.
In conclusion, whether you chose Termidor® or Sentricon®, year round termite monitoring and treatment is essential in the Northeast Florida area. The professionals at Peninsular Pest Control will inspect your home and make a recommendation as to the type of treatment that will be best suited to your particular situation.
The Formosan subterranean termite generally invades structures from the ground. They commonly enter through expansion joints, cracks, and utility conduits in slabs. Any wood-to-ground contact is an inviting entrance for Formosan subterranean termite infestations. On some occasions, however, Formosan subterranean termite can form colonies that are not connected to ground, called aerial colonies. If a pair of alates successfully finds suitable conditions, i.e., adequate food and moisture sources in a building, they can initiate a colony with no ground connection. The flat roofs of high-rise buildings, because they always pool rainwater, are ideal places for the subterranean termite to initiate aerial infestations if portals of entry are found.
Studies also found that Formosan subterranean termites attack many species of living plants. The subterranean termite attacks structural lumbers and living plants because they are sources of cellulose. However, this termite is also known to attack non-cellulose materials such as plaster, plastic, asphalt, and thin sheets of soft metal (lead or copper) in search of food and moisture. Their highly publicized ability to penetrate solid concrete is a fallacy. However, the termite is persistent in finding small cracks in concrete, which they enlarge and use as foraging routes.
Rich Jones from WOKV talks about Treating Formosan Subterranean Termites
Treatment
One way to treat Formosan Termites is with The Sentricon® Always Acitve baiting system. The Sentricon® Termite System takes advantage of natural termite behavior. Worker termites constantly forage far and wide, looking for wood to feed their colony. When they find food, like the monitoring device in a Sentricon® station, they leave special scent trails to summon their nestmates to the food source.
Many homeowners have seen the green disk-like traps around the parameter of homes and some may realize they are there to protect from termites. But, not many know how the Sentricon Always Active Termite system works.
This video will show you the basics in less than 1 minute:
