Another important difference between drywood and subterranean alates is the fact that a drywood termite swarmer population is likely to be much smaller than that of subterranean insects. Termites don’t have to be outside to swarm, though. Formosan Termites; These termite species swarm in late summer or spring after a warm rainy day.
These “swarmers,” or “alates” fly through mud tubes in the case of subterranean termites, or through the air in cases of drywood termites.
Read our Drywood Termite Identification Guide to determine if you have drywood termites. They’re almost similar to ants in size; they have straight antennae, a rather wider waist, and same-sized wings. Unlike subterranean termites, drywood termites live and feed in dry wood and don’t come into contact with soil. Drywood termites are different to control than other types of termites. Moreover, they tend to swarm in times of higher humidity in the night hours from early evening to midnight. Drywood Termites Facts, Identification & Control Latin Name. There are three distinct groups into which termites are divided: subterranean, drywood, and dampwood.
Like ants, termites are very social creatures that thrive in a colony. Drywood swarmers typically measure approximately 12 mm long. Drywood termite swarms are typically significantly smaller than subterranean termite swarms – often with no more than 100 swarmers. and Incisitermes spp.. Since the worker termites in these groups more or less look the same, the appearance of the reproductive caste (alates) and soldiers is important.
Young termites develop wings in the springtime in order to disperse from their parent colonies in swarms. Cryptotermes spp. Appearance. Drywood Termite Swarms. What do Drywood Termites Look Like? What Are Drywood Termites? Dampwood Termites Termite soldiers have mouthparts (mandibles) with teeth. They can sometimes miscalculate their launching point and swarm indoors. ... short legs, and straight antennae. Whether there are just a few drywood swarmers, several hundred eastern subterranean swarmers or several thousand Formosan swarmers, termites flying around the room are not easily ignored.
Drywood termite swarmers, also known as alates, have wings that are the same length. Drywood Termites; Drywood termites usually swarm during fall months or late summer from August to November.