Welcome to a delightful time of year sandwiched between tornado and hurricane seasons: termite mating season. And this week, love is in the air, literally. The insects are swarming under the soft …
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Welcome to a delightful time of year sandwiched between tornado and hurricane seasons: termite mating season.
And this week, love is in the air, literally.
The insects are swarming under the soft glow of any light that shines.
Don't worry, they are not the bugs that will eat through the wooden exterior of your home. Not yet, anyway.
April to June marks termite mating season. Often when it warms up quickly after a rain event, that signals the sleeping insects to wake up. When they do, they are looking for love, hence the crazy dancing in the lamplight.
Once the termites pick a mate, they will look for a place to call home and establish a new colony, so keeping them out of your home is key.
The termites are attracted to light. If you see a swarm in your yard or near your yard, turn off your outdoor lights. The insects should move on in about 30-45 minutes to a better lit area.
If the termites remain, call a professional. Often, the termite colony has not set up shop in your home but rather in a nearby wood pile or tree stump.
If you have a swarm in your home, seal off the room, and definitely call a professional. It is important to figure out where the insects are entering the building and have that sealed.
Swarms of termites may not appear every year. Insects are cyclical and some years only a small population will appear. In other years they seem to be everywhere.