Termite Swarmers in San Diego County

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In San Diego county there is a constant battle between humans protecting their properties and termites trying to do their job as intended by nature. This is because the majority of the houses and structures, which are regularly made out of softwood, like Douglas fir are a perfect target for them. The job that the termites in San Diego and all of California are doing is disintegrating dead wood, which is very helpful for areas like forests where constantly there is vegetation dying and it needs to be decomposed to clear space for new vegetation. However, your property is not something that we want them to decompose, and unfortunately, because it is made out of dead wood we have to keep a constant lookout for this as well as other wood-destroying organisms before they cause any damage that might cost you.

What are termite swarmers?

Termite colonies are divided into different types of termites, which serve specific purposes. Termite swarmers are the winged reproductive specimens of the termite colony; they are in charge of mating and creating new colonies. Swarmers will have two sets of wings, which when not in use lay flat over the abdomen. Usually during spring, or when there are major changes in the climate temperature and humidity are the preferred times that they like to go out and mate. If you do see them on the interior of the property swarming, that is a major indication that there is an established colony possibly already inside of your structures framing. Be aware that for termite colonies to start crating swarmer’s it usually takes about 4 years or longer from the time it got settled. During the first couple of years, the queen only sets a small number of eggs anywhere from zero to 150, making it harder for us to find, as they will not create any significant damage for at least some years.

What should you do if you have termite swarmers?

Depending on the size, age, and location of the termite colony your licensed termite inspector will recommend the most effective treatment method to fully control any and all infestations. The majority of the time, however, structural fumigation will be the most effective way to go. The reason behind it is that if termites are swarming throughout your property, they are doing it as well on the wall voids and areas to which regularly there is no easy access to. At this point, because no localized method will reach those areas, which are at risk, a whole-structure solution is recommended. Other times termite swarmers can be found on openly accessible areas like patios or decks, or even on the ground. At this point, localized treatment with a synthetic chemical like Termidor could be recommended. This termiticide/insecticide uses the active ingredient Fipronil that attacks the insect central nervous system, making it safe to use around mammals like humans and pets. Another great future that it makes it effective to control both Drywood and Subterranean termites is that it is a non-repellant odorless chemical, which the termites will never sense. This gives it a great advantage being that the termites will be consuming it without them knowing it, passing it along to the colony which they are feeding, causing a complete eradication within 90 days.

On other situations, the swarmer’s that you are seeing might be coming from an exterior area and have not reached any of your structural members, on which the best recommendation is to be proactive and take a constant look at the area for new infestations but not necessarily treat it as many times it does not require it.

In Summary

Remember that just because termite swarms are only affecting you during certain parts of the year, be assured that the colony is actively consuming and damaging your property 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is recommended that you act as soon as possible to avoid any excessive damage to happen to your property. Remember that in California termite damage is not covered by homeowner’s insurance nor is a tax-deductible item, so it is wise to be proactive and protect your most valuable investment by having regular inspections performed on your property every couple of years and control situations as they appear. This will save you a lot of headaches, money, and time in the long run.

Give us a call today to (619) 421 – 2101 and a licensed termite inspector will answer any of your questions and if necessary, set you up with a fumigation estimate (South San Diego Only) so that we can make sure that what you are seeing are actual termites and provide you with an estimate for their extermination.