What To Do If You Spot Termite Swarmers Around Dallas
3/16/2020
Have you ever seen termites? There is a chance you have but didn’t recognize them. One common misconception about termites is that they only live underground and cannot survive above the surface. Although this is true for most termites, there is one kind of termite that can be found buzzing about. That’s right, flying termites. They are called swarmers. Here is everything you need to know about them.
What Is Termite Season?
Termite season defines when termites are most active and more specifically when they swarm. Here in Dallas, due to our temperate year-round climate, there really isn’t an offseason for termites. They are always active. Swarming happens frequently and most commonly on warm days after a rainfall.
What Are Termite Swarmers?
Termite swarmers are winged reproductive termites whose only job is to establish a new colony or colonies. These colonizers are only produced from fully mature termite nests and are notoriously bad at flying. This limits the distance they can travel from their colony to establish new homes which can tell you a lot if they are seen around your home.
If you see termite swarmers outside your home, you can guess that there is a termite colony nearby, no further than a mile away. The question is, what does seeing flying termites around your home mean? It means that swarmers are giving it a good look to see if it is eligible for a food source. If your home looks tasty to them, they are likely to establish a nest on your property, close enough for them to harvest your home’s wood.
Finding termite swarmers inside your home is a much worse sign. Unless you have been leaving your windows and doors open frequently enough for swarmers to get inside, seeing these flying termites indoors is a clear indication of an existing infestation in your home since the only way they could have gotten inside is through holes already chewed through your home’s structural wood.
Problems Termites Cause
Not so fun fact: Termites cost US property owners over 5 billion dollars each year. This is mainly due to the damage they are able to deal to homes. Nicknamed “silent destroyers,” termites are the most destructive pest here in America as well as in most other places around the world. If left unchecked in your home, termites can cost you tens of thousands of dollars in home repair costs in just a few years. With multiple colonies all working together to eat the wood in a home, damage can happen much faster.
Termite Prevention Tips
If you haven’t seen termite swarmers inside your Dallas home, it might not be too late for prevention. Here are some steps we recommend.
- Repair or replace wood around your home that has been damaged by rot, water damage, or decay.
- Address moisture issues inside your home by fixing broken gutters, repairing leaks, and installing dehumidifiers where needed.
- Seal up gaps and cracks in the exterior of your home using a caulking gun.
- Make sure your window and door screens are all in good repair.
- Avoid using wood-based mulch products anywhere near your home’s exterior.
- Make sure there is a non-wood barrier between soil around your home and its exterior wood.
- Keep your yard clean of organic debris such as leaf piles, sticks, and other paper-based products.
How To Find Out If Your Home Has Termites
Curious to know if silent destroyers are already in your home? Find out for certain by letting the professionals here at Lonestar Safe Pest take a look. Our experts have the tools and experience needed to identify termites and the damage they cause and would be happy to inspect your property for you.
For the best termite protection available, we also offer advanced termite control services. To make sure your home isn’t destroyed by wood-eating pests, give us a call today. We would be happy to find a solution for termites that best fits your needs.