Flying Termites: What a Termite Swarm Means for a Homeowner
If you’ve ever stepped out onto your veranda on a humid November evening and found yourself walking through a cloud of fluttering insects, you’ve just witnessed one of nature’s most calculated survival tactics. These are alates, or "flying termites," and for a homeowner, you need to be alarmed.
In Australia, the swarming season usually comes with spring and summer rains. When the humidity is high and the winds are low, termite colonies release their alates to find a mate and start new colonies.
Their Biological Mission
Alates are not your usual worker termites. Unlike their pale, blind siblings that eat your home’s boards, alates have eyes, functional wings, and a darkened, hardened body to survive the outside world.
They aren't there to eat your house (yet). Their sole purpose is to fly a short distance, land, shed their wings, find a partner, and burrow into a moist spot to start a new colony.
Most alates never make it. They are food for many local birds, lizards, and ants. However, it only takes one successful pair to start a colony that could eventually cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage.
Inside vs. Outside: Assessing the Threat
The location of the swarm tells you everything you need to know about your risk level.
Seeing alates around your streetlights or in the garden is common in most parts of Australia. It means there is a healthy, mature colony nearby. It’s a reminder to ensure your chemical barriers are up to date.
If you find a swarm or a pile of discarded, translucent wings inside your home, do not panic, but do act quickly. This is a high-probability sign that there is already an established, mature colony (usually 3–5 years old) living within your structure or directly underneath it.
Why the Wings are a Warning
One of the most common signs homeowners find is a pile of fish scales on a windowsill. These are discarded wings. Termites are clumsy fliers; once they land, they intentionally break off their wings because they’ll never need them again. Finding these indoors is the smoking gun of an active infestation.
What To Do Next
Don’t reach for the Mortein: Spraying a swarm with surface spray might kill the alates you see, but it won't touch the colony hidden in the walls.
Collect a Sample: Put a few alates (or their wings) in a glass jar. This helps Safe Spray identify the species and the severity of the threat.
Check the Calendar: If it’s been more than 12 months since your last professional termite pest control inspection, the swarm is your reminder to call our team over: 1300 562 053.
