What Baltimore Property Owners Need To Know About Termite Swarmers

Termites are known to be some of the most destructive types of insects that you are likely to find in Maryland. These little bugs may be tiny, but they live in extremely large groups and will work together to devour your home and other wooden structures around your property. 

At ATC Pest Control, our team members have been providing pest control in Baltimore for over a decade. During the time that we have been serving this area, we have seen an uptick in the number of termite swarmers that people are finding around their homes. If you are wondering what termite swarmers are and what it means when you see them around your home, keep reading. 

What Are Termite Swarmers?

All adult termites that live in a colony will belong to one of three caste systems: the workers, the soldiers, or the reproductives. Each termite will have a unique characteristic that makes them perfect for its role. For instance, worker termites have light-colored bodies that allow them to blend into the wood that they are consuming. Soldier termites have stout bodies and sharp mandibles that protrude from their head to help them fight their enemies. And reproductive termites have a set of wings that allow them to easily leave their colony one day and find a mate. 

During the spring and early summer, the reproductive termites, also known as termite swarmers, will leave their nest to look for a mate. Once they have found a mate, both reproductives will lose their wings and start a new colony. They will now be the queen and king of this colony and will continue to reproduce until they have built their own large colony. 

Termite Swarmers Don't Necessarily Mean You Have An Infestation

If you see termite swarmers around your home, it doesn't mean you have a termite infestation. Instead, it means that termites are checking out your property to see if your home is a good place to start a colony. However, if you start to see several discarded wings around the doors and windows of your home, it likely means that the termite swarmers have found a place to build their nest. Once you see this, you should have your home thoroughly inspected for termites. 

What Attracts Termite Swarmers To Your Home?

Termites will build their nests in areas they think are safe and provide a reliable food source. Some of the things that might be attracting termites to your home could include:

• Leaving your outdoor lights on all night.
• Wood that is touching the soil and creating a bridge between the ground and your home
• Cracks or crevices in the exterior of your home that allow termite swarmers to get inside.
• Keeping piles of firewood next to your home.
• Having old tree stumps or other rotten wood around your home.
• Any type of untreated and dead wood that is on your property.

These destructive bugs usually prefer places that are moist and warm. For this reason, it's important to keep your crawl spaces well-ventilated and not allow water to accumulate around your home.

Total Termite Control For Baltimore Homeowners

Termites can live in exceptionally large colonies containing over 100,000 termites in one nest. Because they live in such large numbers, it can be extremely difficult to eliminate these insects on your own. At ATC Pest Control, we know how to eliminate the entire colony of termites, and we also take extra steps to ensure that they don't come back once they are gone. Give us a call today if you want a safe and easy way to eliminate termites from your Baltimore home.