It is springtime. That means love is in the air, and so are termites. Across the Southeast, native subterranean termites swarm (fly) in the spring, leaving their colony in the hopes of starting a new one. In natural settings, termites are common and beneficial because they eat and recycle woody debris. Unfortunately, if conditions are right for them, they can infest our homes and do tremendous damage to structural wood.
Some ants swarm too and can look very similar to termites. They both tend to be black and about the same size. But swarming ants have 4 wings, with the front wings longer than the back wings. Swarming termites have 4 wings all the same length.
When termites are flying outdoors, there can be hundreds or thousands, and a few may come indoors incidentally. Swarmers found outdoors, or even a few termites found in a house does not mean there is a structural infestation. However, large numbers of swarmers or their wings indoors often do indicate a structural infestation.
If termites are a concern in the home, inspection and treatment may be needed. Nearly all termite infestations in the state require the services of a licensed South Carolina pest management professional for proper control. The best way to protect a home against termite attack is with a combination of prevention, inspection, and control. Several procedures which help reduce the risk of termite infestation include:
For many infestations, insecticide treatments must be used to control established termite colonies. On occasion, fumigation is needed when infestations are extensive, but this treatment is rare in South Carolina. Wood treatments with borate-based products can also be done to exposed, “raw” lumber. Wood treatments are often done in
Read more on hgic.clemson.edu