How Swarming Termites Can Make It from Your Attic to the Room Below

When Termite Swarmers Take Flight

Termite swarmers—also known as reproductives—leave a mature colony in search of a place to start a new one. Most don’t survive, but the few that do sustain a billion-dollar industry.

Seeing 20 to 100 swarmers inside your home can be startling for any unsuspecting homeowner. Most people focus on where the termites land rather than the more important question: where did they come from?

If the origination point can be found, an effective treatment becomes possible. Without it, there’s a lot more guesswork involved.

Drawn to the Light

Swarming termites fly toward the brightest light. They often end up near glass doors or windows, which can mislead homeowners into thinking that’s where they originated.

When I’m brought into the room where they landed, the first thing I do is look up at the ceiling for possible entry points—like recessed lighting or vents. Swarmers often originate in the space above and make their way into the room through those openings.

In this video, I show how that’s possible—how close a termite colony can be to a light fixture. When the light is on, swarmers leaving the colony are drawn to it and can make their way into the room below.

The Two Types of Termites in San Diego

In the San Diego area, we primarily deal with two types of termites: drywood and subterranean.

Drywood termites swarm in late summer or fall.
Subterranean termites swarm in the spring.

Both types look similar—about a quarter inch long, with broad, dark-colored bodies, two pairs of equal-length wings, and straight antennae. The difference is in their heads: drywood termites have red heads, while subterranean termites have dark heads.

Where They Swarm and Why It Matters

Subterranean termites are more likely to swarm outdoors. If they swarm indoors, it’s usually inside a crawl space. If that goes unnoticed, the infestation can grow exponentially.

When drywood termites swarm in a living area, most homeowners kill and vacuum them up. But in a non-borated attic, anywhere they land could become the starting point for a new colony.

The Swarming Seasons

Spring and late summer are the two busiest times of year for termite control.

Homeowners might overlook small signs like termite droppings or gradual wood damage—but it’s impossible to ignore a hundred flying termites. Anyone who’s been putting off treatment suddenly can’t call a termite company fast enough during a swarm.