Category Archives: Termite Swarmers

Termite, Termite Damage, Termite Damage, Termite Swarmers, Termites, Termites in Cincinnati

Signs of Termites in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

Springtime in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky brings warming temperatures, blooming flowers, outdoor sports, and gardening! This is also the time that a lot of homeowners realize they have a termite infestation.

 

Why worry about Termites?

Termites in Cincinnati are a sneaky and destructive insect. They have been compared to a silent wrecking crew because of the amount of serious damage they can cause. Each year, termites cause about $5 billion worth of damage and treatment cost in the United States. This damage can add up to thousands and typically isn’t covered by homeowner’s insurance. Additionally, termites and termite damage can cause serious problems when you go to sell or purchase a home which we’ll discuss in a later blog post.

 

What are the warning signs of Termites?

The first obvious signs of a termite issue are mud tubes (shelter tubes). These tubes are about the width of a pencil but can be as wide as a sheet of paper. Termites in Cincinnati build shelter tubes because they don’t have a hard exoskeleton like ants so they need something to protect them from the elements when they leave the soil. Not seeing shelter tubes? See the 2nd picture below.

The next sign you want to look for our wings. When termites swarm (the next generation) they shed their wings and then try to go back into the soil to form their own new colony. If you have a swarm inside your home, you’ll typically find thousands of wings by a door or window as they’re going to the light to get back outdoors. See the 3rd picture below.

The last visual sign is mud on walls or the floor, termites don’t know which way is up, down, left or right so they’ll end up poking out of the wall or floor and then place some mud over this area to seal the hole. See the 1st picture below.

See any of the signs mentioned above or pictured below reach out to us at 513-247-0030 or help@surethingpc.com to get your termite issues solved with the Sure Cure. Not seeing any of the signs mentioned above but still worried about termites don’t hesitate to reach out for a termite inspection.

Termite damage to the drywall and baseboard.
Mud tubes (shelter tubes) that subterranean termites are using to climb these block supports.
Subterranean termite wings

 

 

Termite, Termite Swarmers, Termites, Termites in Cincinnati

Spring Time is Termite Swarming Time in Cincinnati

Springtime doesn’t only bring April Showers and May flowers but it also brings out termite swarmers in Cincinnati. Termite swarmers are one of the most visible signs of a termite infestation. Swarmers are flying termites and typically come out in hundreds to thousands. These winged termites emerge in the spring in search of a mate to begin a new colony.

Most termites in a colony are workers termites. They are soft-bodied, creamy-white in color and spend nearly all of their time in the soil looking for a food source. Worker termites don’t have a hard exoskeleton so when exposed to sunlight or air they can dry out easily. This is why these workers create shelter tubes. Swarmers, on the other hand, are designed to leave the soil and strike out in search of mates in the hope of starting a new colony. They are dark in color with four wings of equal size and shape.

When termite colonies swarm indoors, the insects are attracted to light sources, this is why home and business owners may find piles of swarmers on windowsills or around other light sources. Soon after emerging, termite swarmers shed their wings, so it’s not uncommon to see piles of wings on windowsills or countertops.

Nearly all termite swarmers in Cincinnati will die off if they emerge inside of a structure. Just because these termite swarmers die off doesn’t mean there is no longer an infestation. Termite swarming inside indicate an underlying infestation that may not be visible.  If you’re seeing swarmers inside your home or business or suspect you may have termites in or around your structure contact us so we can come out and perform an inspection to let you know what’s happening.

Termite Swarmers, Termites, Termites in Cincinnati

Flying Ants or Termites Swarmers?

Happy Spring! Springs marks the beginning of baseball season, but also the beginning when we start to see the signs of termites emerging from their wintering over here in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. In the early part of spring, one of the first and most obvious signs of a termite infestation in our region is the emergence of termite swarmers.

It’s very common for home and business owners in Cincinnati to mix up flying ants for termite swarmers unless you know what you’re looking for to distinguish the difference between the two. Continue reading to help inform yourself of the major differences to be looking for if you see a swarm of flying insects inside or outside your home.

From a Distance:

When flying ants or termites appear it’s often in a swarm of hundreds to thousands. If it happens at night you’re going to see them flying or congregating around interior or exterior lights on your home or business. If it happens during the day you’re going to see them congregating on the inside of your windows. Both insects are attracted to light so what’s happening is they’re trying to get to the sunlight outside. When swarming happens inside this is a sign that you have a mature ant or termite colony inside your home or business and that they’re being forced out by the colony as it matures.

You may also see a bunch of wings laying around, both ants, and termites lose their wings when they mate. Another indication of termites and not ants is that termite swarmers have white colored wings that are stacked on top of each other. This ends up making the white color bold and appearing as if they only have one set of wings.

Getting Up Close and Personal:

When looking at the ant or termite the first thing to look at is the wings. If the wings are about 1/3″ to 1/2″ longer than the body and completely rounded on the ends this means you’re looking at a termite swarmer. Where with ants you’ll notice 2 sets of unequal length wings and wings that are more pointed at the ends.

Next, when you look at the bodies there are three major differences to look for. Ant’s will have the distinct, pinched in waist and look segmented, while termites do not have this pinch and appear to have more of a cigar shaped body.

The second thing to look at is their antennae, ant antennae have an elbow in them and have a stick-like quality. While termite antennae are straight and look like they are made up of many segments.

The last difference is the size, termite swarmers are considerably smaller than carpenter ant swarmers. But since it’s very rare to be finding both insects inside your home or business swarming at the same time it’s good to remember that carpenter ant swarmers are about 13mm to 17mm in length. So if you’re seeing winged insects that are much smaller, you probably have termite swarmers.

Check out our termite page for more information and details about termites.

If you’re finding winged insects inside your home or business and determine them to be termite or ant swarmers, it’s important that you do something about it. While carpenter ants are less of a threat than termites, they can still do quite a bit of damage to your structure. Carpenter ants are also a warning sign that your home is being damaged by water. Carpenter Ants prefer soft or rotted wood to create tunnels and channels to nest in.

Sure Thing Pest Control is your hometown partner in dealing with termites or carpenter ants in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. If you’re ever worried that your home may have an ant or termite infestation feel free to reach out to us. You can trust our educated team to protect your home or business from wood-destroying insects.