Flying Termites: What You Should Do

You might have seen flying termites floating around at some point. Gnats drive you crazy, but they’re just a fact of life here and, yes, they are real!

Why Are Termites So Common in Maylands

Termites love hiding in trees, under the ground and within buildings. The big mud mounds you might envision have undergone for the most part worked themselves out of existence here, with a big assist from people who have managed their yards. 

A colony of termites can survive for 20 years, and all the while the Queen will lay thousands of eggs  most of which will grow into worker termites. These colonies burrow underground, tunneling into the soil and eating away at the heartwood of trees and timber such as the wood used for much of a house’s framing. This means termite damage is all too common and costly to remedy.

Why Do Termites Fly?

The termites you never see are worker and soldier termites that live in underground colonies, are wingless, blind and sexless. But they are part of a special group that grows in the colony once a year: the “reproductive caste.” These are termites with wings, eyes and darker bodies and you can see them in both male and female.

When they swarm, you will get streams of termites slowly flying through the air, not in tight swarms like bees, but squirreled all around. They land anywhere: your hair, car, pool but the lucky ones land on a log or tree stump and start new colonies.

Do Flying Termites Bite or Sting?

Good news! Do flying termites bite? They’re harmless to people. If you see people outdoors, that is perfectly normal. You may need to fish a couple of hundred dead ones out of your pool, but that’s just proof that you live in termite country. It’s a nice reminder to have your home inspected for termites by the professionals on a regular basis. Here in Maylands, it is recommended that an annual inspection is carried out.

If Flying Termites Fly Into My Home, Will They Eat My Wood?

Nope! Ones that get accidentally brought indoors will die soon, typically overnight. They won’t be able to establish a new colony or harm your house on their own.

What Should I Do If Flying Termites Are Coming Out of Walls or Wood Inside My House?

It’s easy to get scared about this, but don’t panic! Here’s what to do:

• Shut the door to the room they’re flying out of to contain them.

• Turn the lights out in that room.

• Let the natural light in outside by hanging your curtains or pulling up your blinds, so the light is shining outside.

• Go inside and turn on any exterior lights by your windows to draw them out.

• By morning, they ought to be gone -- most of them on the windowsill.

Important: Don’t use spray or attempt to catch them, and don’t break open any damaged timber. Let them exit naturally.

This does indicate a termite infestation inside your building that will require professional treatment.

Getting Professional Help

Treatment is very effective, but you need a professional,” he said. Here’s what you can expect a termite specialist to do:

• Inspect your house to determine where termites may have gained access and if possible find their nest.

• Suggest a course of treatment (such as termite baiting or the establishment of a termite barrier around your house).

• Give you a written termite management plan that includes a description of the treatment and any modifications that are necessary, such as better ventilation or landscaping.

• Inspect thoroughly and prepare a report on the findings and fresh recommendations.

• Describe the likelihood of managing the existing infestation and keeping your home from it in the future.

Shield Termite Treatment Maylands offers all pest control services in Maylands and surroundings. Feel free to contact us at (08) 6186 7426 or visit our website:

https://shieldtermitetreatment.com.au/