Pest guide · Florida
Flying Ants or Termites? When Termites Swarm in Florida
A winged termite has a thick waist and four wings of equal size; a winged ant has a pinched waist and smaller hind wings. In Florida, native subterranean termites swarm from December to May, Formosan termites from April to June, and drywood termites from March to June. Honeywell’s Pest Control offers WDO inspections around Middleburg: (904) 415-1083.
Identify
How to tell termites from flying ants
Start with the insect itself, then look for what termites leave behind. Subterranean and drywood termites leave very different signs.
Winged termite
A thick waist, with no pinch between the body sections, and four wings of equal size. Finding one indoors does not by itself mean an infestation, but wings in several areas call for a proper inspection.
Winged ant
A pinched waist and two pairs of wings, with the hind wings smaller than the front pair. Check the waist and wings before you assume the worst.
Mud tubes
Subterranean termites build tubes from soil, droppings and partly digested wood to keep from drying out between the soil and the wood. UF/IFAS calls them strong evidence of subterranean termites.
Frass pellets
Drywood termites live inside the wood and build no mud tubes. They push out six-sided pellets, cream, red or black, through kick-out holes about the size of a pen tip, and the piles are often mistaken for sawdust.
Habits
When termites swarm in Florida
Florida’s termites swarm at different times of year, and some at different times of day, which helps narrow down what you saw.
- Reticulitermes hageni, a native subterranean termite, swarms from early December to early February, in the evening.
- R. flavipes, the eastern subterranean termite, swarms from early January through April, and R. virginicus from early February to late May. Both usually fly on warm, sunny, windless early afternoons after rain.
- Formosan subterranean termites swarm from early April to late June, shortly after sunset, with the most activity in May. They occur across Florida, mostly in built-up areas.
- Termite activity is most visible from March to June, when drywood termites swarm.
- Swarms are seasonal, but a UF/IFAS termite scientist says worker termites feed and cause damage all year.
Prevention
What to check when you find swarmers
UF/IFAS guidance on reading the signs, so you know when a winged insect is worth an inspection.
- Look at the waist and wings first. A thick waist and four equal wings mean termite; a pinched waist and smaller hind wings mean ant.
- Don’t treat one winged termite indoors as proof of an infestation, but have the house inspected if you find wings in several areas.
- Look for live termites. Only live termites confirm an active infestation.
- Look for mud tubes running between the soil and wood, which point to subterranean termites.
- Don’t brush off small piles of pellets as sawdust. Six-sided pellets point to drywood termites, though old pellets don’t always mean the colony is still active.
Florida facts
Florida termite facts from UF/IFAS
- Two of Florida’s three native subterranean termites live statewide, and a single colony can hold up to a million termites.
- Florida’s native subterranean termites swarm between early December and late May, depending on the species; Formosan subterranean termites swarm from early April to late June, peaking in May.
- Drywood termite colonies live inside the wood and are not connected to the ground, so they build no mud tubes.
- Fumigation does not work on subterranean termites, because the colony in the soil moves right back once the tent comes off; baits or liquid termiticides are used instead.
Sources: UF/IFAS: Native subterranean termites (IN369) · UF/IFAS: Formosan subterranean termite (IN278) · UF/IFAS: Termite prevention and control (IN1277) · UF/IFAS: West Indian drywood termite (IN236) · UF/IFAS: Termite season · UF/IFAS News: Termite Awareness Week · UF/IFAS: Ants (IG080)
Get help
Found swarmers or mud tubes?
Honeywell’s Pest Control does WDO inspections and installs termite bait stations for homes and businesses within 40 miles of Middleburg. Call for a free estimate.
Termite control
WDO inspections, bait stations and treatment for subterranean and drywood termites.
FAQ
Termite swarm questions from Florida homeowners
Why would termites swarm in December or January?
Some of Florida’s native subterranean termites swarm in winter. UF/IFAS says R. hageni flies from early December to early February, usually in the evening, and R. flavipes starts in early January and continues through April. So a winter swarm is not out of season here. Honeywell’s Pest Control gives free termite estimates at (904) 415-1083.
What time of day do termites swarm?
It depends on the species. UF/IFAS says the native R. flavipes and R. virginicus usually fly on warm, sunny, windless early afternoons after rain, R. hageni flies in the evening, and Formosan termites swarm shortly after sunset. Note when you saw them and mention it when you call Honeywell’s Pest Control at (904) 415-1083.
How are Formosan termites different from native termites?
Formosan subterranean termites occur across Florida, mostly in built-up areas, and swarm from early April to late June, shortly after sunset, peaking in May. The native subterranean termites swarm earlier, between December and May. Both live in the soil, so tenting doesn’t work on either. Honeywell’s Pest Control installs termite bait stations: (904) 415-1083.
How large can a termite colony get?
UF/IFAS says a single native subterranean termite colony can hold up to a million termites, and two of Florida’s three native species live statewide. Drywood termites live differently, in colonies inside the wood with no connection to the ground. Honeywell’s Pest Control does WDO inspections around Middleburg. Call (904) 415-1083 for a free estimate.
Reviews
What customers say
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