Do Termites Fly?

The short answer is yes, some termites do fly, and you probably should be concerned. Not all termites have wings, though. The flyers are called swarmers or alates, and they’re basically the colony’s house hunters. Their whole purpose is to leave the nest, pair up, and go start a new colony somewhere else. So if you’re spotting termites with wings around your home, it probably means there’s a mature colony nearby that’s looking to expand—and that’s not great news.

What do flying termites look like? They’re usually dark brown or black with two pairs of wings that are equal in length and way bigger than their body. After their short flight, they drop their wings everywhere. If you’re finding tiny discarded wings on your windowsills, near doors, or piled up around light fixtures, that’s a classic red flag. Swarms love the warm, humid weather, so Florida residents can have visitors any time from spring through fall.

Now here’s where it gets tricky. A lot of people mix up flying termites with flying ants, and honestly, they do look pretty similar at first glance. The easy way to tell? While both pairs of termite wings are the same size, ants have one pair longer than the other. Termites also have straight antennae and a thick waist, while ants have elbowed antennae and a pinched waist.

Termites can be extremely destructive, damaging supporting wood beams, joists, baseboards, and window frames. A professional pest control expert can track the colony and stop it from spreading. Contact Florida Pest Control to discuss any concerns.