Flying Termites in Los Angeles

Discover how to identify flying termites in Los Angeles, prevent infestations, and protect your home with expert tips from local termite control professionals.

Flying Termites in Los Angeles

Flying Termites in Los Angeles:

Flying termites cause a huge ruckus to homeowners during their swarming season in warmer months as they prowl around, looking about for mate and location of their colonies. They look pretty harmless; however, those little winged bugs portend a much bigger problem2374 that is hiding way beneath the ground surface of your home.

What Are Flying Termites?

The winged termites are the swarmers or alates and are the reproductive caste of a termite colony. These possess wings and their color is usually darker than the workers or soldier termites of the colony. Normally, when a colony is huge, it swarms at spring or summer seasons when winged termites leave the protection of their nests in search of mates and to establish new colonies.

Mostly, flying termites frequented in the neighborhood practically only for reproduction; hence, sighting an adult swarm of flying termites about your house could perhaps mean there is some nearby colony that has already established or just about to set up shop. Flying termites are quite fragile and come about at night, when they can be seen easily bumping around light sources.

Indications of Flying Termite Infestation in Los Angeles:

Flying termites are classified as a pest that generally swarms in hordes, thus usually the swarmers visible should they actually cause panic for homeowners only for that short flying time. Swarming is often a telltale sign of property damage-never ignore the obvious-given here are some of the most significant clues:

  • Presence of wings: After mating, the adult male and female flying termites lose their wings, which can be found around windows, doors, or light fixtures.
  • Swarming around light sources: Unlike other suitors, flying termites are drawn to light sources, and hence swarming can occur at streetlights or porch lights, or inside your home close to lamps or lit areas.
  • Wood Damage: Witness for wood damage around your home. Termites eat wood from inside out leaving the wood hollow and brittle. Tapping on a piece of wood and if it sounds hollow, then there may be termites.
  • Mud tubes: Small tubes that termites construct to travel from one nest to another where food is available. The presence of mud tubes along the foundation or on any walls of your home is a sure indication of a termite infestation.

How are they destructive?

Flying termites do not really destroy anything; they are a sign of an already large colony of termites that can destroy your home's wooden structure. The extent to which the damage caused by termites spans can even cost a lot, reaching thousands of dollars, in repairs. Some termites are capable of completely weakening a structural part, like beams, floor coverings, or walls, over the years, eventually burdening the house with heavy expenses.

Most severe damage occurs when termites eat structural wood; this may be going unnoticed for months or even years. And if left unchecked, they can create severe structural damages that make an unsafe living condition in the house. That is one of the reasons flying termites should be dealt with as soon as they are spotted.

Best Way to Keep Flying Termites Away:

Preventing flying termites from coming into your house begins at the very source of their coming: a hidden colony of termites. It might be impossible to eradicate every risk of termites, but possible means exist to minimize the chances of their infestation.

  • Seal entry points: Inspect the foundation, walls, and windows of your house; seal or repair any openings or any cracks or holes that could provide entry for termites.
  • Remove wood debris: Because wood is very attractive to termites, free your yard of wood piles, branches, and other organic material, thus less appealing to them.
  • Termite Barriers: It is recommended to provide termite barriers or chemical treatments around the foundation of the houses for a blockade against these pests.
  • Regular inspections: While preventative measures are good, perhaps equally necessary is having someone search your home for termites. This way, if an infestation is found, termite control specialists in Los Angeles can do casual treatments before the little guys start doing extensive damage.

What if you see flying termites?

Flying termites circling the home may be cause for immediate action; starting with inspection of premises for any further indications of infestation. Look for mud tubes, damaged wood, and disposed wings. If any of such signs do appear, it's time to get pest control experts in.

An experienced termite exterminator will be able to tell how bad it is and which method would be best for treating it. Baiting systems, liquid termiticides, or, in very severe cases, termite tenting, all might be used.

FAQs:

Q1: When do flying termites begin in Los Angeles?
Flying termites swarm mainly between spring and summer, specifically from late February to early October, with most of the activity occurring after warm and humid rains.

Q2: Can I get rid of flying termites myself?
You could do a few things on sealing your home and getting rid of wood debris; however, your best alternative is to hire a professional termite company to perform an accurate evaluation and a complete treatment plan.

Q3: How do I know if my house has termite infestation?
Signs of possible signs of a termite infestation usually include flying termites discarded wings and wood that sounds hollow when tapped and mud tubes close to the foundation of your house.

Q4: Are flying termites dangerous to men?
No, flying termites are dangerous to humans, because very much more dangerous-wood damage and structural compromise, are probably in their presence.

Q5: How often should I have inspections done for termites?
Once a year, with more often planned if living in an area that has a high infestation of termites like Los Angeles.