It is a bit unnerving to see a pest you are not used to flying around inside your home. One pest that seems like it shouldn't be able to fly is the termite. When these invasive insects hit the sky, they are known as termite swarmers. If you have been noticing what you think might be termite swarmers around your property, you are in the right place. Here is everything you should know about these problematic wood-eating pests, how to identify them inside your home and how professional pest control in St. Louis can help.

What Do Termite Swarmers Look Like?

One of the most obvious signs of termites you will ever find is termite swarmers buzzing around inside your home. Swarmers look like large, white, elongated ants with long, oval-shaped wings. Fully mature colonies of termites create swarmers to expand to nearby areas. In St. Louis, you will likely find eastern subterranean termite swarmers buzzing around your property. These pests specifically look for wood that is damaged by moisture, rot, or decay. Once they find this type of wood, they look for good ground nearby to dig into and begin laying eggs. It's at this point the problems begin.

Termite Swarmers Could Be The First Warning Sign

Once termites settle in on a property, identifying a termite problem becomes nearly impossible for a while because these pests spend the majority of their lives underground or inside structural wood. The only time they aren't hidden is when the swarmers are swarming. Although termites do not have to make swarmers to invade a home, seeing these bugs buzzing around is a good indication you either have a termite problem or may have a problem soon. The best way to identify this is to note where you see swarmers. If they are outside, you most likely don't have a problem yet. If they are indoors, then they probably got there by crawling out of pre-chewed holes inside your walls, floors, and ceilings.

How Long Do Termite Swarms Last

Although termite swarmers can survive longer above ground than other colony members, they are still quite limited. On average, a swarm of termites stays above ground for 30 to 40 minutes before settling into ground or wood nearby. If it takes more than a few hours to find a suitable place to live or they get trapped inside a window or other inhospitable place, swarmers will die off quickly. One way to know if you have had swarmers inside or around your home recently is to look for their wings. They shed these before tunneling.

How Do You Get Rid Of Termite Swarmers?

Termites swarmers are incredibly annoying to deal with but do not last long. The real problem comes after they establish a nest, at which point they send workers to chew up your home. If you suspect your home is dealing with active termites or are looking for a way to keep these pests away this termite season in St. Louis, consider hiring the experts at Arenz Pest Management. We offer detailed termite removal plans along with termite identification and long-term termite treatments. All of our options are custom designed to fit your home's individual needs and made as affordable as possible in order to help as much of our community as possible. To assess your home's risk of an infestation and to identify any current problems you might have, let our team pay you a visit soon.

At Arenz Pest Management, we have the solutions you need to solve any home or commercial pest problem. Call today to schedule an appointment for your St. Louis home or for any unanswered questions about termites you may have.

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