Flying Termites on the Northern Beaches: Swarming Season Signs and What to Do

If you have seen clouds of small winged insects around your lights on a warm, humid evening, or found piles of discarded wings on a windowsill, you may have seen a termite swarm. Late spring and early summer is termite swarming season in Sydney, and on the Northern Beaches, with its bushland, older timber homes and coastal humidity, it is one of the busiest times of year for termite activity.

What are flying termites?

Flying termites, also called alates, are the reproductive members of a termite colony. When a colony is mature, it releases swarms of these winged termites to find a mate and start new colonies. Swarms usually happen in late spring and early summer, most often on warm, humid days after rain.

After a short flight, the termites drop their wings and look for a place to start a new nest. That is why discarded wings are often the first sign people notice.

Signs of termites around your home

• Swarms of winged insects inside or around the house, especially near lights, windows and doors.

• Discarded wings on windowsills, floors or in spider webs.

• Mud tubes or mud leads on walls, piers, foundations or in the subfloor.

• Hollow-sounding or damaged timber in skirting boards, door frames, decks or fences.

• Doors and windows that suddenly stick, which can be caused by moisture and damage from termite activity.

Learn more in our guide to the signs of termites in your home.

Flying termites or flying ants?

Flying ants are often mistaken for termites. As a rough guide, termites have a straight, thick waist, straight antennae and two pairs of wings of equal length. Flying ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae and front wings that are longer than the back wings. If you are not sure, a termite inspection will tell you for certain.

What to do if you see a termite swarm

• Do not spray them with surface spray. Spraying may kill the termites you can see, but it does nothing to the colony, and it can make it harder to find where they are coming from.

• Do not disturb mud tubes or damaged timber. Leave them in place so the activity can be tracked back to the source.

• Collect a few samples in a sealed container or take clear photos, so they can be identified.

• Book a termite inspection as soon as you can.

A swarm inside your home can mean there is an active colony nearby, or even in the building itself. The sooner it is found, the less damage it can do.

How often should you have a termite inspection?

The Australian Standard for termite management, AS 3660.2, recommends that termite inspections be carried out at least every 12 months, and more often in high-risk areas. Homes near bushland, with timber decks or with moisture problems are higher risk, which describes a lot of properties on the Northern Beaches.

Our termite inspections and treatments

At Bargain Pest Control, our termite inspections use thermal imaging and Termatrac to find termite activity hidden inside walls and timber, and you receive a written report. If termites are found, we can recommend a treatment to suit your home, including Termidor and Sentricon baiting systems.

We are a family business based in Frenchs Forest, servicing homes right across the Northern Beaches, including Frenchs Forest, Avalon, Mona Vale, Collaroy, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Brookvale and Manly.

Book a termite inspection

Seen flying termites or discarded wings? Call us on (02) 9128 4888 or visit our termite control page to find out more.