How Do Termites Avoid Light?
WouterTermites are attracted to light, so you may want to check your house for termite activity. If you see winged insects inside your home, you’ll need to treat your entire termite colony.
Termite colonies include male and female reproductives, nymphs, larvae, kings, and soldiers. All members of a termite colony share food and groom each other for hygiene. Each termite also has a pheromone signal that alerts the colony to potential threats.
Termites swarm at night. The swarming season is usually from March to May. During this time, termites look for new mates. They do not bite, and they do not sting. They do not eat wood. However, they do eat other products with cellulose.
When a swarm lands, it can wreak havoc on your house. They leave piles of wings around your property foundation. This is a visible sign that they are a serious problem.
Termites are most active in dark or damp areas. They eat more than wood, though. Dry wood termites seal exit holes with mud. They prefer to hollow out wood objects.
Subterranean termites are the most destructive. They have simple eyes that can detect light. Despite their blindness, they have the ability to move hundreds of thousands of feet away from the source of their food. They use pheromones as social signals. When the moonlight shines, they cover their holes.
While there is little research on how termites detect light, it’s important to understand that they do not need “sight” to detect it.
