Do termites Swarm in Fall? It’s a valid question and on the mind of anyone who has experienced an issue with Termites in their home. This is one of the reasons that anyone who had an unfortunate encounter with termites in the past needs to educate themselves and get more knowledgeable about termites and how they behave in different seasons. The reality is the threat of Termites exists throughout the year and though you may not see the activity as prevalent in the Fall season, they are still around. Let’s find out more!
- How Do Termites Behave
- When Do Termites Swarm
- What Is Swarming
- Spotting an Infestation
- Location Of Infestations
How Do Termites Behave In The Fall?
While termites may not be as visible during the fall, this does not mean they are not around. In fact, termites do not hibernate during the fall and they are still foraging and eating 24 hours a day 7 days a week and if they can find a way into your home, through a damp crawl space, you can be sure it won’t take you long to see the signs of a Termite Infestation.
Since they prefer warmer temperatures, they will nest deeper into the soil. During the fall, this can be as deep as 25 to 30 feet. This is one of the reasons that you won’t see as much activity because they go deeper and in South Carolina, the Subterranean Termites prefer the nesting beneath the soil. They will continue to forage and feed 24 hours a day at this level and if they can find a food source near or in your home they will attempt to come inside. South Carolina is still quite temperate in the fall and so as temperatures drop, the climate can still offer the right environment for Termites and one particular species of Termite do swarm in the fall season. More about that below.
Termites usually dig themselves into the soil, but worker termites can still continue doing their damage in the wood inside your home. After all, the environment is comfortable and agreeable to them with nice and warmer temperatures.
When Do Termites Swarm?
Swarming usually happens during the spring and the summer. But there are other variables to take into consideration when it comes to swarming. In addition to the weather, other factors such as the maturity of the colony will play a factor and one particular type of subterranean (Reticulitermes hageni) termite swarms from August to November.
So the reality is that swarming Termites are still a problem in the fall months though less likely that in spring and summer. The conditions need to be perfect for this to happen. In other words, swarming cannot happen until a number of conditions are met. In conclusion, one should still remain vigilant for the appearance of new colonies and infestations throughout the year and especially within the crawl space. This is one of the reasons that Crawl Space Encapsulation should be one of your highest priorities.
However, some of you who have no experience of Termite Infestations may not really understand what swarming is and how damaging it can be to your home and your finances.
What Is Swarming?
When one thinks of swarming, it conjures images of locusts of the Old Testament, of movies where swarms of killer bees attack and kill, or even the overrunning of birds in Hitchcock's old movie. However, to understand and spot swarming, it can help to know a little bit more about the mechanics of termite swarming.
When Termites swarm, it is mainly the adult termites that fly off to mate and reproduce to start their own colonies. However, what is rather confusing is that there is no real stage when a termite is considered an adult. Though we can normally understand the lifecycle of the termite, the behavior can often change.
Spotting A Termite Infestation?
Signs of termites have some common indicators and these are easily spotted even if you can’t see the termites themselves. Some signs such as:
1. Dropped Wings
2. Mud Tubes
These are major signs of a termite infestation, even when you cannot see the termites yourself. If you see these, then it is imperative that you contact a local pest control professional as soon as possible so they can begin a termite remediation program.
Location Location Location
Certain locations are more likely to contain signs of an infestation as well, and some of these might surprise you. One of the foremost locations is within the crawl space of your home – especially if it’s damp and has moisture problems. This is where you will see the signs of a termite infestation. The other area is in your sub roofing and you will see this when the tiles start to become loose and there is damage to the shingles.
Another clear sign of termite infestation is the typical termite tunnels. In addition to that, you can also notice some discoloration on your ceilings, wood with visible holes or wood that sounds hollow, tiny wooden particles just underneath suspected infestation sites, a sagging ceiling, and so on. However, one often missed location of a Termite problem is actually your HVAC System. Your air conditioning offers the perfect environment that will attract termites, and especially if it is an older system where it may leak or the drain pan overflows.
As we mentioned before, it is imperative that you seek help from a pest control professional to immediately begin to treat the issue. Furthermore, one of the greatest forms of protection from a termite infestation is to ensure that you do not offer a conducive environment to the nesting and developing of the termite colony. Having your crawl space encapsulated will not offer the right environment that will attract termites, it will protect your home from other wood damaging pests.
Call Scouts Pest Control for a free quotation on Crawl Space Encapsulation
