Why Do Termites Swarm?

Phoenix Termite Swarms are Bad News

Whether you love it or hate it, it’s monsoon season in Phoenix. With all the rain, come bugs—lots and lots of bugs. Termites swarm, mesquites are everywhere, and cicadas are singing.

Pest control companies like Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination love this time of year because we get to help our clients make their homes bug free. The biggest bug issue we treat during this time is a termite swarm.

What Is A Termite Swarm?

Just as bees swarm in spring, termites swarm in the summer. They swarm to spread and rebuild colonies. A swarm can happen over the course of several days.

One termite colony can spread farther than ¼ mile in Phoenix. You may have been safe last spring, but you might have a problem this winter all because of a summer swarm.

Thousands of winged termites emerge from underground nests in search of mates to launch a new colony. Multiple colonies can swarm at a time matching males from one and females with another to search for new residences.

How Rain and Termites Mix

Termites wait for ideal weather before they begin to swarm. They want cool, windless, and overcast days following rain for their swarm

While that kind of weather happens in most parts of the US in the spring, here in Arizona, it’s the summer monsoon rains that make for the perfect termite swarms.

The rains softens the ground, enabling newly matched pairs to easily build their new nests to begin their colonies. As a bonus, the humidity in the air also helps their survival.

What A Termite Swarm Means for Your Phoenix Home

Winged Phoenix termites, called alates, can often be confused for winged ants. If you see a bunch of winged insects flying around your yard or even your neighborhood, then your best choice is to schedule a termite inspection.

Alates will resettle within ¼ mile of their origin point. If a neighbor is experiencing issues, then it’s a good bet that you soon will be too. That’s why it’s a best to stay alert when termites are most active.

Don’t think that only wood-built dwelling are susceptible to a Phoenix termite problem. These little buggers will attack metal, sheetrock, furniture, and even food storage. Termites are fond of insulation, so you could be at risk no matter what type of home you have or where you live.

If You See a Termite Swarm

If you see a swarm of any type of bug, have your property checked immediately! Call the experts at Budget Brothers Termite & Pest Elimination to schedule an inspection.

One of our trained technicians will come to your property and look in all of the nooks and crannies to see if you have an existing issue and if your home has the potential to attract termites.

Termites don’t cause extensive damage when you catch them in time. Seeing a swarm is a great way to know you already have—or going to have—a problem.