Termite Swarming in Florida: What It Means and What to Do

Termite swarming in Florida is the yearly flight of winged termites leaving mature colonies to mate and start new ones. In South Florida it can begin in January and is most visible from March through June, and a swarm inside your home is one of the clearest signs that a colony is already living in the structure.

Florida’s warm climate gives termites a long season and plenty of species. Florida has 20 established termite species, the most of any state, according to UF/IFAS, and the main ones around South Florida homes each swarm at a different time of year and time of day. Knowing which is which tells you how worried to be and what to do next.

What Is a Termite Swarm?

A termite colony has workers, soldiers and reproductives. Once a colony is mature, it produces winged reproductives called alates or swarmers. On the right day they leave the colony together, fly a short distance, drop their wings, pair off and try to start a new colony.

Colonies need years before they swarm:

• Native subterranean termites may take 5 to 10 years to mature enough to produce alates (UF/IFAS).
• Formosan subterranean termite colonies take 5 to 8 years to reach maturity and begin producing alates.
• West Indian drywood termites start producing alates when a colony is about 5 years old and keep doing so for the rest of its life.

Two facts follow. First, swarmers themselves do not damage your home; the workers in the parent colony do the eating. Second, a swarm from inside your walls means a colony has been feeding there for years. Most swarmers never succeed: indoor alates usually die quickly from drying out, and UF/IFAS notes they rarely find the moist wood or soil they need. But it only takes a few successful pairs to start new colonies nearby.

When Do Termites Swarm in Florida?

Each species has its own window. South Florida populations of native termites may fly earlier than those in North Florida, and UF/IFAS has observed swarming in Fort Lauderdale as early as late February.

FDACS adds that homeowners often first notice termites when swarmers emerge in spring and mid-fall, and UF/IFAS notes that West Indian drywood termite flights can occur at any time of year. So while spring is the main season, a fall swarm should not be dismissed.

Time of Day Is a Clue

Formosan and Asian swarmers are drawn to lights, so they gather around porch lights, lit windows and even boats. UF/IFAS records a Key West hotel room swarmed by Asian subterranean termites at 1:30 a.m. in February. For a species-by-species profile, see our pages on the Formosan subterranean termite and the Asian subterranean termite. For more on timing alone, read when is termite swarming season.

Does a Termite Swarm Mean Your House Is Infested?

Not always, but sometimes it is the first proof.

Probably outdoors only if you see:

• A few swarmers on the outside of screens or around a porch light
• A swarm coming from a tree stump, fence or woodpile in the yard
• A single winged termite inside that likely flew in through a door

Probably a structural infestation if you see:

• Hundreds to thousands of swarmers indoors, which UF/IFAS says usually indicates a structural infestation
• Swarmers coming out of a wall, baseboard, slab crack, window frame or light fixture
• Wings collected in several rooms, which UF/IFAS says calls for a proper inspection
• Swarmers together with mud tubes or small pellet piles

A swarm in the yard is still a warning. A mature colony that close to the house can forage toward it: native subterranean colonies forage up to 150 feet, according to UF/IFAS.

Is It a Termite or a Flying Ant?

Many Florida ants swarm in the same months, often after rain. Check three things:

• Antennae: straight in termites, bent like an elbow in ants
• Waist: thick and straight in termites, pinched in ants
• Wings: two pairs of equal length in termites; ants have longer front wings than hind wings

Both shed their wings, so look at the body too. Our full guide to termites vs. flying ants has a side-by-side comparison.

What to Do During a Termite Swarm

1. Stay calm. A swarm does not mean the house is about to fail. It means a colony needs attention soon.
2. Do not spray. Insecticide kills swarmers that will die on their own and does nothing to the colony.
3. Close off the room and turn off lights, so swarmers do not spread through the house.
4. Vacuum them up once they settle, and empty the vacuum into a sealed bag outdoors.
5. Save a sample. Keep a few insects or wings in a sealed bag. UF/IFAS stresses identifying the species before choosing a treatment.
6. Note exactly where they came from. A crack, outlet, window frame or baseboard points the inspector to the colony.
7. Call a licensed pest control company and schedule an inspection.

How to Make Your Home Less Inviting Before Swarm Season

You cannot stop the neighborhood from swarming, but you can make your house harder to colonize and easier to inspect:

• Inspect regularly. Check for swarmers, mud tubes and damaged wood, and get a professional inspection once a year. FDACS calls an annual inspection a must for older homes.
• Reduce lights at night during spring evenings, especially porch lights near doors, since Formosan and Asian swarmers are drawn to light.
• Keep screens in good repair. UF/IFAS lists screening with about 1 mm mesh among ways to exclude drywood swarmers, along with caulking cracks in wood.
• Remove wood-to-soil contact. Wood touching the ground invites subterranean termites; keep firewood, lumber and stored mulch away from the house.
• Keep mulch thin and leave the foundation visible so mud tubes can be seen. Our article on how landscaping choices attract termites explains why.
• Check utility entries. Pipes, conduits and AC lines that pass through the slab or walls give subterranean termites hidden paths into the house.
• Fix moisture problems. FDACS warns that leaking pipes and foundation cracks can invite termites.

How Toro Handles Swarm Season

Treatment depends on the species, which is why swarm samples are so useful. Subterranean termites and drywood termites need completely different approaches; our article on drywood vs. subterranean termites explains why.

Toro’s termite control service starts with a free inspection to identify the species and check how far the damage goes. Subterranean termites are treated with the Sentricon baiting system, installed in the soil around the property with no drilling into the slab and no trenches. Localized drywood colonies can be treated with TORO-GUARD, a non-tenting treatment, and drywood termites spread through the structure with tent fumigation. Toro responds within 24 hours, guaranteed, across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and the Keys.

If you saw dark swarmers in the daytime, compare what you found with our guide to signs of an eastern subterranean termite infestation.

Contact Toro today

A free inspection & $25 off your first service

A trained Toro technician inspects your home or business, explains what was found and gives you a clear plan and quote, backed by our 110% Satisfaction Guarantee.

305-594-4767

Schedule My Free InspectionCall Toro Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Educational content. This article is for general information about pests in South Florida and is not medical, legal or professional advice. If you have a bite, sting or allergic reaction, contact your doctor; in an emergency, call 911. Pest problems vary from home to home, so a licensed professional should inspect before treatment. When using any pesticide, always read and follow the product label.

Related articles

What to Expect During a Termite InspectionCommon Termite Mistakes That Cost Homeowners ThousandsWhy Garages Often Show Termite Problems First