I found winged termites while I was reading on my deck at night with light on. do I have a problem?

Question

I live in northern Arkansas

Answer 1

Winged termites may mean that an existing colony is swarming because it is overpopulated. These could be subterranean (below ground) termites and they may have already infested some of the wood in your house. I would call a professional termite service service to come out and survey your house for infestation. We had this happen in our house. The termites swarmed and there were hundreds of them in our kitchen. Most of them die after swarming, but the remaining ones go off to form a new colony, after one of the workers turns into a queen. The newer types of termite control are injected in the ground and are a contact poison. The termites touch it and carry it back to the nest and usually within 20 days or so, the entire nest is eliminated. Don't use the services of a termite company if they tell you they need to put poison into any of the spaces in your house above ground. This is unnecessary. Find a service that keeps up on the latest types of termite controls. They are effective and there is no hazard of toxins coming into contact with you, your family or your pets. The older types of termite poisons were very very toxic to humans and animals. The treatment on our house cost us $300.00 which included the inspection and the treatment. I understand this was a very good deal. We only had infestation in one wall, not the entire house. Good luck.

Answer 2

Winged termites in a house are an indication of probable infestation. Termite wings break off shortly after their flight, and even though the actual swarming is not observed, the presence of discarded wings indicate that a colony is nearby. Because
termites are attracted to light, their broken-off wings are often near doors or windows where the termites have been attracted to the light.

Winged termites emerging from the ground out-of-doors near the house does not necessarily mean the house is infested, but it is a good reason to check further.
Termites in the wood of homes or other buildings usually come from colonies already established in the soil.

Answer 3

The winged termites often come out of their dens during rainy season. I don't know what season would be there in Northern Arkansas. The winged termite hoover aroung the lighted bulbs or tubes. But you need not worry about those insects, as that is the final stage of the termites to perish.

But it may be causing some inconvenience to you. The best method to get rid of them is to keep on the light outside the house before you switch on the light of the room. Most of them would remain around the outer lighted bulb or tube. If you have wiremesh door that may prevent the winged insects to come up to the room light.

Answer 4

If I was the one who found these winged insects on my deck. I would be buyying some type of bug spray or having my deck professionally sprayed. over years they could eat your deck.