As the days grow shorter and leaves begin to change colour, it’s a reminder that summer is ending and fall is here. As the temperature starts to cool down, homeowners should be aware of one particular issue: termite infestations. Termites are small insects that feed on cellulose, which can be found in wood and other similar materials. Subterranean termites are able to build colonies underground in order to infiltrate your property and cause damage or mass destruction.
The only thing worse than a “regular” termite is a flying termite, right? Known as the ‘silent destroyers’ termites are able to hide away for years, silently munching away at your much-loved home. Given the chance to know how to get rid of flying termites, the subterranean termite will eat your home to the ground.
If you see flying termite swarms around your home, it’s important to take action and address the issue as soon as possible.
One way to help protect your home from a termite infestation is by being proactive and installing a protection system – a termite barrier around the outside perimeter of your home. These systems work by creating a physical barrier between your home and the termites, preventing them from being able to enter. This will help to keep termites from entering and will help to protect your investment.
If you are worried that you may have a termite infestation, it is important to seek professional help for termite inspection right away. Termites can do serious damage to your home if left untreated, so it is important to take action as soon as possible.
This extensive guide on flying termites includes the following:
- What do flying termites look like?
- What’s the difference between flying ants and flying termites?
- Signs of Flying Termites in Your Home
- How to get rid of flying termites?
- How to protect your home from flying termites?
- FAQs
What do Flying Termites Look Like?
Flying termites look the same as they are called — termites that have wings. However, despite their simple and obvious description, these insects are a huge nuisance. Generally speaking, all termites have a pair of straight beaded antennae, no segmented abdomen, and six legs.
Subterranean termites have two pairs of gray-to-white wings and black bodies. A flying termite can measure from 0.25″ up to 0.375″ depending on the species.
When it comes to colour, many of them are essentially light with whitish or grayish wingspans. Winged termite is usually a bit darker in colour compared to worker termites. Worker termites have cream-colored bodies, and their heads are light brown. They also have two pairs of wings that are the same size.
As for termite larvae, they’re very small and have soft, white bodies.
What’s the Difference Between Flying Ants and Flying Termites?
Flying ant and flying termite are two different types of insects. Flying ants are a type of ant while flying termites are a type of termite.
Both flying ants and flying termites have wings, which allow them to fly. Flying ant use their wings to fly during mating season while flying termite use their wings to fly when they are looking for a new place to live.
Subterranean termites fly on their two symmetrical termite wings – that’s how you can be identified them while flying. Flying ants have large, “butterfly” like wings that lay upon each other in unequal lengths.
Both flying ants and flying termites can be a nuisance, but they will eventually go away on their own. Flying ant will die after their mate, and flying termite will find a new place to live once their current home is no longer suitable.
Signs of Flying Termites in Your Home
Before you fight pests, you need to establish whether they really exist.
There are several signs that you might have a flying termite infestation, including flying termites near your home, flying termites in your home, and damage to your home’s wood.
If you spot a flying termite, it’s probably a subterranean termite.
Subterranean termites are species of termites that live underground, where they create extensive colonies and a series of mud tubes that allow them to travel to the surface for food. Once a termite colony has been around for several years, subterranean termite swarmers may develop and seek out a location for a new colony.
Although flying termites have wings, they don’t tend to fly very far away because they aren’t great at flying. So, if you spot a flying termite, it’s likely that you have a termite colony near your home already.
The Most Common Signs that Pests are in the House:
Blisters in wooden flooring
Termites are attracted to tree stumps, and if you have a tree stump in your yard, you’re more likely to have a termite problem. Termites stay deep inside wooden surfaces, so if you have any blisters or areas within your wooden flooring, it could mean that there are termites below the surface.
Peeling paint
If you see bubbling paint or peeling, there may be a termite infestation in your home. Termites eat away at the wood in your house, which can damage the structure of your home and lead to expensive repairs.
Fallen or broken wings
When you find termite wings, it’s important to take action right away. Fallen or broken wings are a sign that there’s a termites swarm nearby, so you may expect these termites at any access point to the property, including doors and windows.
Damaged or hollowed wood
When you see damaged or hollowed wood, you could be certain that it’s actually infested wood caused by termite damage. This can be the effect of termites that chew through the wood and make a long hollow cavity within it. Termites search for cellulose in wood, which may explain why this happens to wooden items in your home.
After a while, this type of cavity may weaken the wood.
Drywood termite droppings
Drywood termites are a specific species of termite that lives inside the wood. Unlike other termite species, drywood termites do not require flying to spread their colonies. Instead, they create tunnels and galleries inside the wood, which eventually leads to the formation of heaps of pellets. These pellets are wood excrement and are a telltale sign of a drywood termite infestation.
Mud tubes
Mud tubes may be present near a termite food source like a shed, or a tree, or near a place where the ground surface meets the home. An explanation for this is the fact that subterranean termites usually live underground and make their way up to look for any wooden structure. Termites are attracted to moisture and cellulose, which is found in wood. Mud tubes help protect the termites from predators and drying out.
How to Get Rid of Flying Termites?
Five Naturally Kill Flying Termites Without Chemicals:
There are a few different DIY termite trap that you can create – natural bug killer with boric acid, essential oil, or white vinegar. One simply involves a box and some water, while another involves rubber mulch, cedar mulch, or orange oil. Whichever option you choose, make sure to place the trap in an area where you have seen termites.
Sun or light. Flying termites attracted to all sources of light, but they are particularly drawn to straight lighting. If you find yourself in a situation where there are flying termites everywhere, the best thing to do is turn off all of your lights, open all of your doors and windows, and the termites will fly out of your home.
Termites can be a huge problem for wooden furniture and structures. If you have any suspicion that your furniture has been infested, you can try to kill termites by exposing them to the sun. Most termite species cannot stand sun exposure and will die within minutes if they are exposed to brightness and open air.
During the summer months, you can clean your furniture and carry them outside for a few minutes to allow the sun to kill the termites. Make sure to keep an eye on the furniture to make sure all of the termites have been killed. If there are any remaining termites, you can repeat the process until they are all gone.
If you want to try another natural home remedy for flying termite treatment you can use essential oil. There are a few different ways to treat flying termites naturally without using chemicals. One of the most common and effective termite killer – organic essential oil treatments is orange oil. Orange oil is extracted from the rinds of orange fruits and it contains D-limonene which is said to be toxic to termites, particularly the dry wood termite. A termite’s exoskeleton will immediately dissolve upon contact with the oil, and it will become dehydrated and lose its ability to process nutrients.
One such remedy is neem oil. Neem oil is a naturally occurring pesticide that has been shown to be effective in controlling termites. It works by affecting the hormonal system of the termites, preventing them from reproducing and spreading. When applied to infested areas, neem oil also has a unique smell that deters termites.
Another natural option for termite control is tea tree oil. Tea tree oil is a natural insect repellent that has been shown to be effective in controlling flying termites. Like neem oil, it works by affecting the hormonal system of the termites, preventing them from reproducing and spreading. When applied to infested areas, tea tree oil also has a unique smell that deters termites.
White vinegar. One of the simplest and most effective methods naturally kill flying termites is to use a homemade termite-repellent spray. This spray can be made with white vinegar, lemon juice, water, and dish soap. It is important to shake the mixture well before using it, as the ingredients will not mix properly if left unshaken. The spray can be sprayed directly on the flying termites, or on any areas where they may be nesting. The vinegar will dehydrate the termites and kill them.
The first way how to make termite spray with white vinegar is to mix one cup of water with one cup of white vinegar.
The second way is to mix half a cup of lemon juice with half a cup of white vinegar. You will need to squeeze the lemons and shake the mixture in a bottle until they are well mixed. Then, you can spread it on the entrances of a termite nest that you see on the walls or crevices. You can also spray it on any surfaces where you see flying termites.
Boric acid or borax powder, or borates is an effective termite killer and repellent. This substance is an all-natural pesticide that can slowly bring termites to their death once they have ingested it.
It works by disrupting their digestive systems and cutting off their supply of nutrients from the dry wood. It can take up to 72 hours for boric acid to completely take effect in the termites and pests’ organs.
A boric acid is a great option for those looking for an all-natural way to kill termites. It is slow-acting, but it is very effective in taking down even large colonies of termites. It is important to keep in mind that boric acid will not work on every type of termite, so be sure to do your research before using it.
Bug zapper. Flying termites can be eliminated with the use of bug zappers. Bug zapping is a pest and termite control method that doesn’t require the meticulous preparation of any baiting system or ant traps. A bug zapper looks like a lamp but it emits a UV light that will attract any flying termites or flying ants into the electrical trap. The electric discharge instantly kills the flying termites the moment that they enter the trap. You can strategically place the bug zapper in a corner of the room or you can hang them outside on the porch or balcony.
If you spot flying termites swarming around your home, immediately call an exterminator for a termite inspection to deal with your termite activity because termites can quickly cause extensive damage to your home that will cost far more to repair than the cost of the pest control service.
How to Protect Your Home from Flying Termites?
Flying subterranean termites is a major pest problem across the world, as they can cause significant structural damage to houses when they infest and burrow underground. They are very difficult to treat, so the best way to protect against their presence is with a solid termite protection barrier and system. It works by creating an invisible barrier around your home, that the termites cannot cross. This is because the barrier stops them from burrowing underground and accessing the structure of your house. Additionally, it creates an inhospitable environment.
Flying termites are a common problem during the warm spring and summer months. These pests can infest your home, causing serious damage to the structure of your house. There are a few things you can do to protect your home from flying termites, including:
- installing a termite barrier around your home (including screens installed on windows without free of holes and tears in the fabric)
- checking for signs of flying termite infestations regularly
- removing any food or water sources that might attract termites
By taking these steps, you can help protect your home from flying termites and minimize the damage they can cause.
How to Get Rid of Flying Termites FAQs
Do flying termites go away on their own?
Flying termites will eventually go away on their own, but if there is a high population or if they are causing damage, help may be needed – bug zapper or proper pest control by professionals.
Winged termites are the reproductive caste of the colony and they swarm in order to start new colonies. Termite swarms can be quite large and very alarming, but they are not harmful and the flying termites will eventually go away on their own.
What home remedy can I use to get rid of flying termites?
Flying termites can be pesky little pests, but there are a few things you can do to get rid of them. One home remedy is to use a spray bottle filled with water and vinegar.
Also, you can use a bucket of soapy water. All you need for it to by filling a jar with water and adding a small amount of dish soap. The termites will be attracted to the water and will drown.
Another option is to use a homemade trap. To make the trap, you’ll need a piece of wood about 2 feet long and 2 inches wide. Drill several small holes in the wood, then soak it in soapy water. The flying termites will be attracted to the wood and will get stuck in the soap. You can then dispose of the trap.
Another way to get rid of flying termites is by using a pesticide. Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow all safety precautions. If flying termites are causing a serious infestation, it’s best to call a pest control professional.
Are flying termites hard to get rid of?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best way to get rid of flying termites will vary depending on the specific situation. However, there are a few ways to naturally get rid of them including removing any termite nests or colonies that you find, using insecticides or termiticides to kill the termites, and sealing up any cracks or openings in your home that termites could use to enter.
Flying termites are a sign that a termite colony is nearby. They can be difficult to get rid of, especially if they have already established a colony. The best way to get rid of flying termites is to call a pest control company.
What causes flying termites in your house?
A flying termite infestation can be a real problem for a homeowner. These pests can quickly swarm and spread throughout the house, causing extensive damage to the structure.
While there are a number of things that can cause a flying insects infestation, the most common is a termite colony that has reached maturity and begun to produce winged termite swarmer – alates. These alates will be swarming termites in an attempt to start new termite colonies, and often end up in homes where they can do extensive damage.
If you suspect that you have a flying termite infestation, it is important to get professional help right away. The sooner the problem is diagnosed and treated, the less damage will be done. Professional pest control companies can identify the source of the infestation and treat it accordingly.