Termite swarmers are the future breeders of a termite colony. Their function is to disperse, find mates and start new colonies, but they are themselves harmless and rarely cause damage. Worker termites are the evil destructive members of the colony that do cause the damage to homes. The presence of termite swarmers is generally a sign that an existing colony is already in, or around your home, and that you really should get an inspection to determine treatment.
Still, don’t wait until you see a termite swarm to call your pest/termite control company. Since termites live in the ground and inside wood, they are concealed. They can do much damage by the time you notice any signs that they have moved in with you, like the piles of saw dust or granular/sand type evidence. There are steps that you can take to help protect your home. They include:
Ø Eliminating any wood-to-soil contact around your foundation
Ø Store firewood and remove any wood debris near your home away from the houses foundation.
Ø Direct drainage gutters/pipes away from your foundation.
Ø Correct any moisture conditions and water leaks right away (this also helps keep the mosquito’s from camping out and making families).
What to do with a Swarm:
Close off the room where the insects are swarming.
Collect one if you can, to show your pest inspector.
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove them if you can.
Note the exact locations the swarmers are coming from.
How to tell the differences between Termites and ants:
Swarmers: Straight antennae, straight waistline, 2 pairs of wings that are equal in size.
Winged Ants: Elbowed antennae, defined waistline, 2 pairs of wings and the front ones are longer then the back wings.
