How Do Termites Lose Their Wings?
Termites, like bees and other insects, have wings. But termites aren’t really good fliers. They can only fly for a short period of time. And then they drop their wings when they land.
Unlike other flying insects, termites have a thick, one-piece body. Their wings are translucent, and can be as large as 3 centimetres in length. They can also be dark brown or black depending on the species. The wings are also veiny.
They are attracted to light, and usually fly around straight lights. They can swarm in millions at a time.
These winged alates are the reproductive caste of termites. Typically, alates are born in colonies, and then fly out when conditions are right. They start a new colony with other alates. When the colony is mature, the young adults start to emerge.
If you notice these alates in your home, you may want to take action. This is because they can cause serious damage to your home. They can also be eaten by humans. You can call your pest control service to get rid of them.
These winged termites are a sign of an infestation. If you haven’t already, you should close all your windows and doors, and turn off all unnecessary lighting. Termites love light. If you can’t shut all the lights, you can block the light out with a block-out curtain.
Swarming is an important part of termite development. This occurs when a queen and king of a colony find a suitable spot to mate. After mating, the termites swarm out to find a location to begin a new colony. A swarm can land up to 50,000 termites at a time. Swarmers are most common during the spring.