The Swarm
This time of year some people will experience a phenomenon they'd probably rather watch in a Steven King movie. Flying insects come out of the woodwork, invade their homes and wreak havoc. Fortunately, there is something that can be done to prevent this experience from causing trauma in a homeowner's life.
Warm spring temperatures and high moisture levels provide favorable conditions for increased termite and ant activity. Now through May is prime mating season for both types of insects, and when colonies get crowded, sexually mature kings and queens move on to start new colonies in other locations. The swarming of these insects, both ants and termites is a natural event and serves to expand their territory. Hopefully your bedroom isn't the place of choice. However, knowing what type of insect you're dealing with helps determine the strategy for controlling them.
Flying ants and swarming termites are often difficult to tell apart. Ants have a narrow "waist" (the joint between thorax and abdomen) like wasps; termites have an abdomen that is broadly joined to the thorax with no waist. Ants have two pair of wings that are unequal in length (the front pair is longer than the back). Although termites also have two pairs of wings, they are almost equal in length. The antennae of ants are sharply bent in the middle, like an elbow, whereas termite antennae are straight and beadlike. Both insects are relatively small, from 3/16 inch for the smaller ants and termites to 3/8 inch for the large ants.
Termite colonies consist of three castes: workers, soldiers and winged reproductives (the kings and queens). The workers are creamy-white and are rarely seen unless infested wood is pulled apart. About a quarter-inch-long, these termites have a crucial role- they perform all the labor in the colony, such as obtaining food, feeding other caste members, excavating wood and constructing tunnels. The workers probe continuously through the soil, looking for food, which may be as far as 500 feet from the colony. They then build tunnels for thousands of workers to transport cellulose back to the colony. The workers are careful to keep the path protected. Where it may be exposed to light or open air, the workers build mud tunnels from the soil to the food supply. These tubes are an indication that termites are present.
Soldier termites are about the same color as workers but their elongated yellowish heads have large jaws, and they are about the same size as adult workers. Soldiers can not feed themselves and rely heavily upon the workers for food. They are less numerous in the colony than the workers, and their only function is to defend the colony against invasion.
The kings and queens are dark brown or black, and grow to about a half-inch long. They are poor flyers so when these swarmers finally emerge above ground, they usually flutter a few yards and fall. They shed their wings and males that survive look for compatible mates. The couples burrow into the ground to become king and queens of their own colonies.
Carpenter ant colonies, like the termite colonies, have castes: reproductives and workers. The reproductives consist of the queen and male ants. These ants vary in size and color but are usually 1/4-1/2 inch and blackish. The male ants fertilize the queen during the ant's nuptial flight, then die leaving the queen to start the new colony.
The worker caste ants are devoted to a variety of activities such as nest construction, repair and defense, foraging for food, and feeding and caring for larvae and the queen. Workers vary in size and appearance within a species.
Both of these insects are social insects that live in colonies. Termites usually live underground, where they feed mostly on old roots, tree stumps and fallen limbs. Ants are found in cavities located in the soft, moist, decaying wood of a hollow tree, stump or log. They feed on other insects, aphid honey dew and plant juices. Both of these insects are extremely important in nature until they find your house.
If you discover swarmers inside your home DO NOT PANIC! Termite swarms emerging inside a structure don't usually survive. It is, however, an indication of infestation. If this is the case it's a problem you really can't treat yourself. If you are unsure of whether or not you need an exterminator you can call the Family, Home & Garden Education and request the following fact sheet "Do You Need an Exterminator?" Professionals can examine the structure to determine where the colony is nesting and just how large it is. These people have the most effective chemicals and the technical expertise for proper application. There is no need to be rushed into a termite control program. It is more important to take your time to select a "reputable" pest control firm to treat your home. Deal only with a licensed, certified pest control firm having an established place of business and a good professional reputation. Research and get at least three competitive estimates before signing any form of agreement.
Homeowners who have properly identified their swarmers as carpenter ants can try to combat the problem on their own. It is essential however, that the nest is located and eliminated.
Once treatment has been completed, you can take additional actions to help reduce potential infestation in the future. These actions include:
- Reducing the moisture level in basements and crawlspaces
- Removing scrap wood from around your home and moving firewood at least 25 feet away from the foundation
- Eliminating any wood to ground contact
- Keeping gutters free of leaves and debris
- Fixing water leaks as soon as you find them
- Replacing badly damaged timbers with sound materials. Where possible, don't allow wood within 18 inches of the soil
- Filling all visible cracks and voids in the foundation with concrete or caulking compound
- Reducing soil moisture around the structure by directing run-off away from the foundation. Be sure gutters and downspouts are installed and working correctly.
Rachel Maccini, UNH Cooperative Extension Family, Home & Garden Education Center Coordinator