Flying termites are the winged adults of a termite colony, called swarmers. They leave the nest a few times a year to pair up and start new colonies. Around Casa Grande, the most common kind flies after monsoon rains from July to September, according to the University of Arizona. Seeing them outside is common. Seeing them come out inside your house means it's time to get it checked.
Why termites swarm
A termite swarm is how a colony spreads. Once a colony is big enough, it raises winged males and females. On the right day, they all fly out at once.
Termite swarmers are weak fliers and are drawn to lights. When they land, they drop their wings, pair up and look for damp soil or wood to start a new colony. The University of Arizona says fewer than 1 in 100 survive to start one.
That's why you often find piles of wings, one of the common signs of termites, on window sills, patios and under porch lights, with only a few bugs left.
What winged termites look like
Termites with wings have four wings of the same length. The wings fold flat over the back and reach well past the body. The body is straight from head to tail, with no pinched waist, and the antennae look like tiny strings of beads.
Flying ants are the common look-alike. The flying ants vs termites guide shows the differences side by side. Here is how the swarmers found around Casa Grande compare, based on the University of Arizona's descriptions:
- Desert subterranean swarmers: pale yellowish brown, about half an inch long with wings
- Arid-land subterranean swarmers: dark brown to black with nearly clear wings, about half an inch long with wings
- Drywood swarmers: two-toned, with a brown head and a darker, brownish black body
- Desert termites from the yard: brown, about three quarters of an inch long with wings
Termite swarm season in Arizona
Rain softens the ground, and damp soil gives a new pair the best chance to dig in and start a colony.
Different termites swarm at different times here. These are the windows the University of Arizona gives for the kinds found around Casa Grande, which sits at about 1,400 feet:
- Desert subterranean termites: July to September, usually after a monsoon rain. This is the most common and most destructive kind in the state.
- Arid-land subterranean termites: January to March below 4,000 feet. Above 4,000 feet, they fly in June and July.
- Drywood termites: June to August, on bright, sunny days. Their flights aren't tied to rain.
- Desert termites: after summer rainstorms. They live in the yard and aren't a house pest unless they're found inside.
Flying termites outside vs inside
Outside, a swarm in the yard or around a porch light means a colony is somewhere nearby. That could be under the yard, in a dead tree, or at your foundation. Check the foundation for mud tubes over the next few weeks.
Inside, swarmers coming out of a wall, a baseboard, a window frame or a crack in the floor usually mean the colony has reached your house. The University of Arizona lists winged adults inside the home as a main sign of drywood termites.
Notice where they came from. A crack, a vent, one window? That spot tells the inspector where to start.
What to do if flying termites are in your house
Take photos first. Get a close shot of one bug and a wider shot of where they came out.
Keep a few. Put them in a small jar or a zip-top bag and write the date and room on it. The University of Arizona suggests keeping collected termites in alcohol so they hold their shape.
Then vacuum up the rest. Skip the bug spray. It kills the swarmers you can see and does nothing to the colony in the soil or wood, which is where termite treatment is aimed.
Have a licensed inspector look, and show them the bugs you saved. You can request an inspection and mention the swarm. Get what they find in writing, then compare quotes.