Winged termites swarm the Sunshine Coast

Flying termites swarm homes on the Sunshine Coast!  Have you noticed flying ants around your home; congregating around your lights or finding flying ant wings in your dogs water bowls or swimming pool?  We have seen and had reports of flying ants in and around homes on the Sunshine Coast and customers uncertain and concerned whether they are termites or ants.

Flying Ants video clip

The video below shows the flying ants inside a home flying around the lights; the question we always get asked is it a termite?

Flying ants or termites?

Firstly you need to determine whether they are termites with wings known as termite reproductives or ants with wings; below is a description of their differences and a picture of each;

Ants with wings

  • long legs
  • two sets of odd sized wings
  • narrow constricted waist
  • elbowed antennae

Termites with Wings

  • short legs
  • two sets of even sized wings
  • broad waist
  • straight beaded antennae

Why do we find flying termites?

The termite reproductives are the young potential king and queen termites that leave the termite colony to start a new colonies.  They have wings to help them disperse and they loose them after they mate.  They usually emerge on a moist warm day, especially after a rain storm.  If your home is invaded by the future king and queen termites you at risk of a new colony starting and you would ask the question how far away from your home is the colony they left behind?  This is one of the reasons we recommend regular termite inspections and termite management systems and encourage our customers to be vigilant with ensuring the conducive conditions for termite attack in and around their home are kept to a minimum.