Winged termites flying around your Northern Virginia home can be terrifying. Termites cause an estimated $5 billion in damage every year in the United States, and nobody wants their home to be part of that statistic. Whether your home is in Woodbridge, Virginia, or Bowie, Maryland, termites are a huge threat to homes in our region. This blog article will share about the threat of termite infestations, why you should be concerned about seeing termites with wings, what you can do to prevent a termite issue, and how My Pest Pros can protect your home from termites.
What Are Flying Termites?
Flying or winged termites are often confused with flying ants. While winged termites and winged ants have the same role in their colonies, they are definitely different species.
Flying termites, sometimes referred to as swarming termites, are responsible for helping the colony expand. Formally known as alates, the reproductives in a termite colony are seen during warmer days. They help the colony spread by creating new colonies.
Are Winged Termites Dangerous?
The simple answer here is no. Termites with wings do not bite and are not a threat to your family or pets. However, flying termites indicate a termite problem that can threaten your safety by damaging your home. You do not want to ignore an issue with termites!
Alates, reproductives, and swarmers are all terms for flying termites. When space and resources become scarce, their colony's duty is to expand to new sites and reproduce. If you haven't seen them before, you could mistake them for flying ants like carpenter ants, but there are a few significant differences that you can use to tell the difference:
- Swarming termites are usually lighter in color than ants.
- Termites have two sets of wings that are equal in size.
- Ants have two sets of unequal-sized wings. Their forewings are larger.
- Ant bodies are pinched at the waist, while termites are more cylindrical.
Will Swarming Termites Damage My Home?
While termite swarmers do not cause damage, they are a sign of a termite colony’s nearby presence. The workers in the colony can definitely cause damage to your home. Treatment by a pest control professional is strongly recommended if you see termite swarmers.
Local Exterminators to Protect Your Home
Let your local termite exterminators know if you've already discovered termite damage in your house or if you're concerned about the flying termites you've discovered. My Pest Pros' termite control team is trained and equipped to handle termite infestations of all sizes and to assist you in keeping them out of your home in the future. For a free quote, contact My Pest Pros today at 703-665-4455. and schedule your treatment!