It’s swarmer season! With multiple termite colonies per acre and several hundred thousand termites per colony, we always says it’s not if you’ll get termites, it’s when! Termites cause over 5 billion dollars’ worth of damage per year in the United States alone. To make matters worse, that damage isn’t covered under your homeowner’s insurance. That is why it is so important for you to protect your home, one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make, with a termite bond that covers both retreatment and repair of future damage.
In preparation for swarmer season, here are a few facts for you to know:
- Termite swarmers are active during the spring. When a colony matures, swarming winged termites can be seen around windows and doors. After mating, they find a new breeding site and create another colony, spreading infestation through multiple locations. Just because you have a termite swarm doesn’t mean you have an infestation, but you should still give us a call to verify.
- Swarmers are often confused with flying ants. Termites have the same size wings, a broad waist, and straight antennae versus ants that have elbowed antennae, a slender waist and different size wings.
- In addition to seeing termite swarms, you may also see shelter tubes, also known as “termite tubes” or “mud tubes.” These tubes serve as a bridge between the colony in the soil and the wood that is consumed. The tubes are actually built out of soil to protect the termites from predators and conserve moisture. It’s very important to call us immediately if you think you see a shelter tube.
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