Home / Termites / Termite swarmers
Wings on the windowsill? Here’s what they mean.
Every spring, winged termites and ants swarm across Bradenton and Sarasota. Most people only notice the little piles of wings they leave behind. Here’s how to tell termites from ants, and what to do next.
Inspection firstthen a price for your home. No guessing.
Termite swarmer or flying ant?
Get close (a phone photo zoomed in works). These four things give it away.
| Termite swarmer | Flying ant | |
|---|---|---|
| Antennae | Straight, like a string of beads | Bent at an elbow |
| Waist | Thick, no pinch | Thin and pinched |
| Wings | Four wings, all the same length, longer than the body | Four wings, the front pair longer than the back |
| Dropped wings | Yes, easily. Piles of wings are a classic sign. | Sometimes, but rarely in piles |
When termites swarm in Florida
Swarm time depends on the kind of termite, which is a useful clue.
Subterranean termites
Usually late winter and spring, often in the daytime after a warm rain.
Formosan termites
At dusk, roughly April to June, in big swarms drawn to lights.
Drywood termites
In the evening, often from spring into fall, and also drawn to lights.
Other termite signs to look for
Mud tubes
Pencil-wide dirt tunnels on the foundation, slab edges, piers or inside walls. Subterranean termites travel in them.
Piles of “sand” on the windowsill
Tiny, hard pellets piling up on sills, floors or under wood. These are drywood termite droppings, called frass.
Tiny holes in wood
Small round holes where drywood termites push their droppings out.
Bubbling paint, hollow wood
Paint that blisters, or wood that sounds hollow when you tap it.
Seeing swarmers? Do this
Save a few
Put some swarmers or wings in a zip bag, or stick them to tape. It helps us tell what they are.
Leave the wood alone
Don’t spray into walls or tear into wood. Swarmers die off on their own; the colony that sent them is what matters.
Book a termite inspection
We find where they’re coming from and give you a price before any treatment.
Termite swarmer questions
Ask Pete anything else, day or night, in English or Spanish.
Do swarmers mean I have termites?
Swarmers inside, especially piles of wings near windows, doors and lights, usually mean a colony is in or under the home. Swarmers outside mean termites are nearby. Either way, it’s a good time for an inspection.
Are termite swarmers dangerous?
They don’t bite or sting, and swarmers don’t eat wood themselves. They’re a sign of a colony that does.
How long does a termite swarm last?
Usually less than an hour. Swarmers that end up indoors die within a day or so because they can’t reach soil or water.
Do you do WDO inspections for home sales?
Yes. We do termite and wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspections for realtors and mortgage companies. See termite control.
More guides
Termite control
Inspections, spot-treatment injections, Sentricon and WDO inspections.
Florida ants
Ghost ants, white-footed ants, fire ants and more, side by side.
Palmetto bugs
Why big roaches show up after rain, and how to keep them out.
Ready when you are.
Pick an open weekday and arrival window online, or text us at 941-896-2852 for the fastest reply, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.
-
Wings on the windowsill?Swarmers inside usually mean a colony nearby.
Termite inspection Quote