Swarms of termites!

photo from cals.ncsu.edu

When a termite colony reaches maturity, they will produce male and female reproductive "swarmers."  These are the young king and queens that leave the colony to start a new one.  Termite swarmers will emerge when the outside weather conditions are right.  This is generally on a warm, moist day, most often from early spring to summer.  Swarms will often take place after a rain storm.
Termite swarmers have wings to help them make their journey to a new home.  However, they do not fly well and use the wind to carry them.  They will also try to fly towards a light source.  Indoors, they are commonly seen on window sills or around doors.  Once they land, termite swarmers will break off their wings, pair off to mate, and look for a place to begin a new colony.

photo from ardentermite.com

Seeing a swarm of termites outside your home or on trees near your home may not be a reason for alarm.  Swarmer termites do not cause damage to your home.  However, seeing them inside, especially if you are seeing more then a couple, is a likely indication a colony is present in or near your home.  The worker termites, the offspring of the new king and queen, are the ones that eat and destroy the wood in and around your home.  If you think you are seeing termites in your home, call Mid-Georgia today for an inspection at 770-962-4240.
Termite swarmers can often be confused with flying ants.  For more information on determining the differences, check out the previous blog, Termite vs. Ants!

photo from termites.com