Spring is Time for Termite Swarms

Spring will soon be here in Alabama, and an entomologist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System says spring will bring out a serious insect pest. Dr. Xing Ping Hu says termites will be swarming in coming weeks.

“While native termite species can swarm any time of the year, spring is peak swarming season for these pests in Alabama,” she says. It is during these first warm months of the year that county Extension agents get the most calls about swarms and infestations.

Hu explains that termite swarms are composed of winged male and female termites.

“They fly from their home colonies to mate, disperse and start colonies of their own,” says Hu.

She notes that swarming serves several other purposes. Swarming functions to mix the termite gene pool and spread the species, and it helps termites find new sources of wood to attack.

“In-ground tree stumps, downed trees, moist wooden fences, unprotected homes and mulch around houses are all food sources favored by termites.”

Alabama is home to several different types of termites including native subterranean types as well Formosan subterranean termites. Hu says that most native subterranean termites swarm during the day, usually on a sunny still later morning one or two days after a rain. These native termites are dark bodied and have gray wings.

In contrast, she says that Formosan subterranean termites, which are yellowish colored with tan wings, swarm in the evening to early night and will be attracted to lights. They are often found in window sills and swimming pools the day after a swarm.

Swarming means that the parent colony is mature and healthy enough to reproduce. Before swarming, workers and soldiers usually make tunnels upward to a higher location such as above the windows of homes or up tree trunks.

She says that the colonies infesting trees construct a kind of launch pad, while colonies infesting homes usually chew tiny exit holes through sheetrock walls.

“Homeowners should have their homes thoroughly inspected where swarms have been reported, particularly if the termites swarm within the home.”

She says because of swarming, spring is the best time for termite inspection. Homeowners should be on the lookout for signs of mud tunnels and earth spots on walls, foundations and columns.

Posted by lawremc at March 13, 2009 08:45 AM | TrackBack