The swarm-season guide
Wings in the house: what to do tonight, and after
A swarm means termites are nearby. It doesn't tell you whether they are in your house. These steps keep the evidence and keep you from making it harder to read.
- First hour
Step 1: Tonight
Turn off lights near the swarm; the insects go to light. Sweep or vacuum them up. Wings drop within hours and the evidence goes with them.
- Before you clean
Step 2: Keep a few
Tape a few insects and a pinch of wings to a card, or photograph them on a plain sheet of paper. Note the room, the window and the time.
- Next morning
Step 3: Tomorrow
Text us the photo. We will say whether it looks like a termite swarmer or a flying ant, and whether a visit makes sense.
- Within days
Step 4: This week
Look at the sills, the porch posts and the soil line for mud tubes. Don't disturb them; photograph them.
- Winter
Step 5: Before next spring
Book an inspection in winter, before the first flights. A swarm outdoors says nothing about the house; an inspection does.
Side by side
Termite swarmer or flying ant?
Four things to look at. If you can't tell, a photo is enough for us to try.
| Look at the | Flying ant | Termite swarmer |
|---|---|---|
| Waist | Flying antPinched in the middle. | Termite swarmerThick, with no pinch. |
| Antennae | Flying antBent, like an elbow. | Termite swarmerStraight, like a string of beads. |
| Wings | Flying antTwo pairs, the front pair longer. | Termite swarmerTwo pairs, all the same length. |
| Left behind | Flying antFew or none. | Termite swarmerPiles of matching wings near windows and lights. |
The calendar
When to expect them
The usual order of a New Orleans year.
Native subterranean swarms
Warm days after rain.
Feb to Apr
Formosan swarms
Warm, humid evenings, near sunset.
May to Jul
Pre-swarm inspections
The best time to book.
Jan to Apr
Moisture checks
After roof repairs and heavy rain.
Jun to Nov
Typical months, not promises. Weather moves the season.
Questions about swarms
I found wings but no insects. Does that mean termites?
It can. Termites drop their wings after a flight, so a pile of matching wings on a sill is a reason for an inspection. It doesn't say whether the colony is in your house or next door.
Should I spray the swarm?
We would rather you didn't. A spray kills what you see and tells you nothing about where they came from, and it can make the photo harder to read. Sweep them up and call us.
The swarm was outside. Do I still need an inspection?
A swarm outside says there is a colony nearby. It doesn't say it is in your wood. An inspection answers that, and it's easier in winter than in the middle of the season.
Can I text you at night?
You can text any time, and we read messages when the office opens. If you have a photo, send it with the room and the time.
Send us a photo of the wings
Include the room and the time. We will tell you what we see, and whether a visit is worth it.