Swarms of multiple winged termites usually appear during springtime. These insects will come out of their colonies to search for food, mates, and new homes. If you suspect you have a flying termite infestation, it’s best to seek advice from a pest professional. But while termite infestations are not something you can treat on your own, certain steps can still help you gradually push them out of your home.
So what are the steps on how to get rid of flying termites in your house? By pinpointing where they are, thoroughly inspecting the infested area, using effective anti-termite treatments, and preventing their return. Dive in to learn more.
Steps to Getting Rid of Flying Termites
As with dealing with other insect pests like ants and cockroaches, getting rid of flying termites involves four simple steps:
1. Find Their Nests
First, you need to find where the flying termites are hiding. To do this, you need to look for certain signs, including:
- Discarded Wings
One of the most telltale signs that you have a flying termite infestation is the wings some of them left behind. If you have sightings of their wings in your house’s window sills and floors, then it’s highly likely that a swarm of them has recently landed in your home.
- Mud Tubes
While the flying termites go out in search of mates, food, and whatnot, their land-bound comrades build mud tubes so they can travel to and from their food sources. If you encounter any of these vein-like tubes in your house, then you’re close to locating the subterranean termite base.
- Hollowed Wood
Another sign that points to a winged termite invasion involves the wood itself. Termites eat wood from the inside out. If you hear a papery or hollow sound when you tap the wooden parts of your house and your wooden furniture, then you have an infestation in your hands.
- Termite Droppings
Like your flying ant, winged termites are clean freaks as far as their home is concerned. That’s why they often tend to push out their droppings out of their colonies. If you see any of these brown-colored, grainy fecal pellets, then it’s only a matter of time before you locate their nest.
2. Inspect the Infested Areas
Once you’ve found the flying termites’ colony, assess the infested area thoroughly. That way, you can determine how extensive the infestation is, as well as estimate the cost of having it fixed. To properly inspect a flying termite infestation, you need to:
- Switch on all utilities
The termites will disrupt the utilities in your home, especially as their colony grows. So as part of your inspection, you have to switch on your lights, your faucets, and your heaters among others.
- Clear the area around the infested site
You need to make the infested site accessible as well, so make sure the surrounding area is clean. Rope off the room to keep your children and pets away. Move out the furniture near the infested area, especially if it’s made of wood, and sweep away any dirt and debris lying around.
- Do other mini inspections
Check other parts of the house for problems. Clean the gutters, check your windows and doors, and unclog your drains among other tasks. This doesn’t only help you assess the damage caused by the flying termites, but it also has the added benefit of exposing other problems that need fixing.
3. Employ Anti-Termite Treatments
Next, you need to pick the best anti-termite solution for your home. There are several effective termite control treatments for dealing with flying termites. These include:
- Termite Bait Treatment
This treatment tricks flying termites into eating protein or sugar-flavored pesticides. These baits are designed to kill termites slowly so they can bring some of the morsels home for their comrades to consume. This will eventually destroy the colony and get rid of your termite problem.
- Boric Acid Treatment
Boric acid treatments involve injecting infected wood with a dose of diluted boric acid. The wood will then absorb the boric acid, and any termites who consume it will die instantly. For best results, use boric acid products that will not change how the wood looks or emit any foul smell. This treatment can also be used against drywood termite infestations.
- Spot Injection Treatment
Meanwhile, spot injection treatments involve drilling holes into infested wood to expose the flying termite colony. Insecticides will then be inserted through these holes before sealing them shut. This method is effective for treating wooden furniture and other isolated termite infestations. They can also be employed along with other anti-termite treatments.
- Fumigation Treatment
If you’re dealing with more extensive flying termite infestations, then better employ fumigation gas treatment. This technique introduces insecticide gas to your home, effectively depriving flying termites of their oxygen supply until they drop dead. Fumigation gas treatments are 100% effective in most cases. However, it needs to be performed by a pest control professional, and you have to spend a few days away from home until the treatment is done.
- Liquid Barrier Injection Treatment
The liquid barrier injection treatment involves creating an insecticide barrier within the linings of your house. Any termites that make contact with this barrier will die instantly, and it has the added bonus of preventing future termite invasions. The barrier is installed by professionals through injection.
Most of these treatments are effective on other pests as well, including the carpenter ant, the drywood termite, and many more.
4. Take Preventive Measures
As soon as the swarming termites have been defeated, you should do everything you can to prevent any of them from returning for revenge. So as a precaution, do the following:
- Fix your roof and attic
Broken attics and roof tiles expose the wooden beams in your house, leaving you vulnerable to future termite invasions. So fix them as soon as you can.
- Install screens
At the same time, install screens in your windows, doors, and air vents. That way, termites and other small insects won’t be able to enter your home ever again. For best results, use 20-grade screen meshes.
- Get rid of excess moisture
Flying termites rely on moisture for their water supply. Get rid of excess moisture in your home, as well as fix whatever’s causing the moisture to form in the first place. That way, the termites will be discouraged from infesting your house.
- Minimize cardboard box usage
The average termite swarmer doesn’t just eat wood; it’ll also target your books and cardboard boxes for food. So once you’ve dealt with your termite problem, proceed with minimizing cardboard box usage in your house.
- Keep your landscape clean
Lastly, clean your front and back yards. Get rid of any wood debris, mulch, or firewoods cluttering your lawn, as these will entice termites to return. You should also remove old tree stumps and dead trees from your property.
Learn more: Tips to Prep Up Your Home Against Flying Termites After Rain
Enjoy Quality Termite Control With Midway Pest Management
Flying termites are one of the most concerning pests you’ll ever encounter as a homeowner. If unchecked, they could cause you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in damages, most of which aren’t covered by your insurance. By following the four steps listed above, you’ll be able to slowly but surely drive them out of your beloved house.
Got a flying termite problem? Let Midway Pest Management handle it. As the leading pest control provider in the Johnson County area, we can help you create a pest management program that will strategically get rid of your flying termite infestation.
Contact us to learn more about Midway Pest Management’s services.