Termites Everywhere!
After Rains Come Termites
The presence of hoards of flying insects (a termite swarm) can cause many otherwise relatively calm, rational people to hop around screaming and scratching themselves all over. They no longer have the ability to stop and think about the situation. They look for a professional immediately. Worse, they start spraying anything and everything all over the house. The good thing is that there are now professionals that can help them. They can help hoemeowners manage, or rid themselves of termites as well as any of the old tents ever were capable of. The thing to do, is take a deep breath. The termites aren’t harmful at this stage.
The Ones With the Wings are Harmless
Winged termites will not bite or sting. They have flown into the light to mate and die. After a rain, termites take the emergence of sunlight as a sign of spring mating season. In California, and more recently, other areas as the climate changes, “spring” comes at other times of the year.
When termites fly towards the window, they are trying to get outside where they can land on soil and breed. They need to loose their wings and go underground, in most cases, in order to do this, depending on the kind of termite encountered.
What Should Be Done About Them?
More and more homeowners have turned to Integrated Pest Management in their landscape and home vegetable gardens. Increasingly, they have found that they want the same poison-free approach inside of their homes as well as outside. Instead of bug bombs and tents, they want something that they know will be safe for themselves, their families, and their friends when they visit. They do not want to pack everything in sealed containers and move away while poisonous gases fill their homes, nor do they want to worry about any poisonous residue or implements lingering around the house after the exterminators have gone.
Surprise! It’s a Termite Swarm
It is helpful to collect them with a vaccuum cleaner. Do not panic. It is not as bad as it seems. It will be if this warning is ignored… but not in a day, or even a week or two will a house fall down. Termites will not bite you in your bed at night and give you malaria, and they will not contaminate your food in the kitchen while you’re not watching them. Most of them will die quickly after losing their wings, and they will be gone after their heat of passion has ended. This can last a few days. Keep the vacuum cleaner out. Try to note wherever you thought they might have entered the house. Look for old wood in floors or doorways.
Call a Professional
It isn't over when the swarm has disappeared. Now is the time to call the professional you have chosen while your mind was back together again. If the swarm didn’t come from outside, it probably came from inside. This means that there may be a colony somewhere on or around your property. But, remember not to panic. You have time to find the professional of your choice. You do not have to take the first exterminator who comes by with a gas mask on. Your health and those of your friends and family are more important than that. And we all want our world around us to be safe for all of us. All will be well again.
Wingless Termites in Wood
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