With termite swarming season in full swing, the number one thing our exterminators hear from new customers is “I wish I had known more about termite protection” – especially those who have termite damage to their homes and businesses.

In North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, most damage is done by the Eastern Subterranean Termite species, or worse, the dreaded Formosan Termite (nicknamed the “super termite” for their aggressive wood-chewing tendencies.  Unfortunately, the Formosan termite swarmer is the species most commonly found in the house in our region.

Regardless of the species, no one wants to deal with these pests. To save you the stress and headache of dealing with a termite infestation, we are helping educate the community about the importance of having a termite protection plan and annual termite inspections from a reputable local pest control company (click here to see why many homeowners trust Palmetto Exterminators to protect their homes and businesses).

So, what do you do if you see termites swarming around your home? Here’s what you need to know:

What To Do If You See Termites Swarming Around Your Home

Swarming termites are a natural part of the species’ life cycle. If you have ever encountered swarming termites, you will likely agree that it isn’t a pleasant phenomenon, to say the least, however, there is a silver lining. Most of the time, termites go unseen until years of damage have already been done. During termite swarming season, though, nature lets us know if there is termite activity around your house.

Termite swarmers have no biting or chewing mouthparts and do not cause any damage to your home. Their goal is to start new colonies in and around your home which, in turn, can cause damage. After leaving their former colony, swarmer termites form “clouds” (or swarms) for thirty minutes to an hour.

If they cannot find soil during that time period, they will die due to dehydration. Oftentimes, homeowners will find many dead swarmers or their wings on window sills, countertops, doorways, etc., however, dead or alive, these pests are ominous.

Here’s what to do if you find termites swarming near your home:

1. Don’t Panic: Historically, greater than 95% of the termite swarmers we find inside homes originated from outside of the home and not from an infestation in the home. We will help you verify the source.
2. Collect Some of the Termite Swarmers: You must collect some of the swarmers in a jar or bag so that your pest control company can identify the species of termite.
3. Call Your Local Pest Control Company: While not all swarmers are indicators of termite activity in your home, if you find them, immediately call a licensed termite exterminator to inspect your home and verify the source of the swarmers.
4. Contain the Termite Swarmers: Once you have alerted your local pest control company, try to contain the rest of the termite swarmers by closing all doors and windows to your home.
5. Eliminate the Remaining Termite Swarmers:  If possible, after closing off any new entryways, try to eliminate the visible termite swarmers by vacuuming the cloud and exit path. Then, put the vacuum bag into the garbage and place it away from your home. Do not take your vacuum back inside before emptying it.
6. Seal Exit Paths: If the termite swarmers have already started to infest your home, do not seal off the exit holes completely. This will cause the termite swarmers to create additional exit paths. Instead, place a plastic bag over the hole, taping the edges so that the swarmers will fly into the bag.
7. Continue to Monitor: Until one of our trained termite exterminators comes out to your home, make sure to monitor the situation. While substantial damage doesn’t happen overnight, it can be helpful to monitor for new problem areas and vacuum any visible swarmers.

Termites are a natural part of life, but that doesn’t make them any less scary to homeowners. Across the United States, termites cause billions of dollars in damages every year. The good news is that you can protect your home from these destructive pests.

To learn more about termite prevention and termite protection for your home, contact Palmetto Exterminators today or visit the resources for pest control services below:

• Termite Control FAQs
• Termite Control & Prevention Blogs 
• Termite Protection Plans & Service Agreements