Swarm Season
February 28, 2020
Are Those Termites Flying Around Your Property?
As the most destructive type of insect found in Columbus and across Ohio, termites cause great concern for many residential and commercial property owners. The most common and harmful types of termites are Subterranean. They build their colonies underground near their preferred food sources -- trees and various kinds of wooden structures, including homes and commercial buildings. Living and working underground, Subterranean Termites are not customarily seen above ground, even when they have established large colonies. However, they are usually on the search for new food sources and suitable places to form new colonies, and during “swarm season,” they will fly around above ground looking for areas for expansion. What And When Is The Termite Swarm Season?
The swarm season typically runs from late February or early March through May. When the weather starts to warm up, and the soil is moist, termites will leave their established colonies to search for locations for new colonies. There are specialized termites from a mature colony that are winged. Visible flying termites during swarm season may be venturing out from a colony near your property, or they could be coming from one that already has access to your buildings. Even though the swarming termites are visible, they are only a part of the functioning colony. Many worker termites remain underground to feed and develop the existing colony at all times.
Swarmer termites, or alates, take to the air in search of a favorable location for a new colony, and they mate while swarming. After mating, they lose their wings and begin looking for moist soil that is loose enough to burrow into. Without moist soil, the termites will soon dry out and die above ground. Once a group of termites has dug deep enough to begin a new colony, a female will transform into a queen for the new colony and start laying eggs in high volume, as many as 20,000 in a day. It may take up to five years for the new colony to mature into a fully developed termite home, but as long as wood is available, the they are likely to make the space a permanent home.
Are Those Termites Or Ants?
Some species of ants have wings and also swarm in ways similar to termite swarming behavior. While ants are often pests in and around all types of buildings, for the most part, they do not cause the same kind of structural damage as termites. Carpenter Ants will tunnel through wood, but they do not eat wood as termites do.
Ants are also likely to be seen flying around at times of the year outside of the narrow termite swarm season. Even though termites are usually only visible above ground during their swarm season, they are always hard at work underground feeding on structural wood and keeping their existing colonies growing.
Flying ants and termites both have four wings, although the shapes are noticeably different. Termites have four equally sized wings, while ants will have larger wings upfront with a smaller rear pair. Termites have straight antennae, and those of ants are angled more sharply. Ant wings are usually about the same size as their bodies, while termite wings extend out about twice as long as their main body. Ants have narrow waists and termites have more cylinder-shaped bodies.
Whether you are experiencing swarming termites or flying ants, the potential for damage from infestation is significant. If the insects flying around your property are present during termite swarm season and appear to be termites rather than ants, you should have your property and the flying insects inspected immediately. Depending on the results of a professional inspection. Whether termites are swarming from existing colonies or are looking to set up new living quarters near your buildings, treatment plans can differ significantly. As always, the key to effective control and protecting your building is eliminating any existing colonization and excluding any termites from using your wooden structures as a food source in the future.
Rely on Restoration Pest Management for fast and accurate species identification and a comprehensive recommendation for controlling and excluding whatever kinds of bugs you might be having trouble with. We are the leading pest control provider for Columbus, and our customer service is second to none. Contact us today for further information and assistance with insects spotted during the swarm season.
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How To Get Rid of Carpenter Ants Removing ants from your home can be challenging, and if not executed properly, it may exacerbate the issue and allow the colony to spread throughout your residence. Numerous over-the-counter pesticides are marketed for ant control, but they often fail to address the root cause of the infestation. What Lures Carpenter Ants Ants invade your home because they discover an environment that offers favorable conditions along with food and water sources. Typically, ants are drawn to moisture issues, particularly Carpenter Ants. Over time, the barriers that prevent moisture from penetrating the wood in your home deteriorate. Windowsills and door frames begin to degrade, caulking cracks, and moisture seeps into these areas. When wood moisture levels rise, it creates an inviting environment for various wood-destroying pests, including ants. Carpenter Ants utilize their mandibles to excavate the wood, creating nesting cavities. While they do not consume wood like termites , they can still inflict damage, including structural harm to your home if not addressed promptly. Black Carpenter Ants Ants, in general, are social insects, each fulfilling specific roles within their colony. They collaborate and share resources throughout their community. To effectively eliminate ants, it is crucial not to disrupt their activities but rather to provide them with something they recognize as food or a substance they cannot detect, which will spread throughout the colony and eradicate the source of the infestation. Carpenter Ants, in particular, can have multiple satellite colonies away from the main colony, depending on their level of establishment. The primary colony can be located up to 300 feet from a satellite colony, often found in decaying trees, logs, or nearby woodpiles. How to Treat Carpenter Ants – Mount Gilead, Ohio Many homeowners prefer to tackle these annoying pests on their own to save some money. While this might seem like a cost-effective choice, it can sometimes worsen the issue by embedding the problem deeper into your home, causing the colony to spread and divide. Many over-the-counter solutions, such as chemicals, essential oils, and vinegar, are designed to repel insects quickly, providing a temporary fix. This approach may push the ants out of sight, but it creates a repellant barrier that can lead to the ants splitting into two groups, allowing them to infiltrate untreated areas of your home. Consequently, this method fails to eliminate the source colony from which the ants originate. Liquid Ant Bait For minor ant infestations, using an over-the-counter borax ant bait can be an effective first step in the elimination process until a pest control expert can evaluate and address the issue properly. Ant baits are specifically designed to attract ants, which perceive them as food, and they subsequently distribute it throughout the colony. Borax ant baits offer a low-risk option to help prevent a larger infestation from developing. Control Carpenter Ants – Columbus, Ohio In the end, having ants in your home can pose a more significant problem than just the few visible in your kitchen or bathroom. Engaging a pest control professional like Restoration Pest Management, who can accurately diagnose and treat the infestation, is the most effective solution for long-term success . While homeowners can perform localized and spot treatments, a pest control expert will ensure your whole home is safeguarded against ant invasions both now and in the future. Contact Restoration Pest Management today at 614-204-8630 for your complimentary quote.
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