Termites With Wings Inside Your House in Hawaii: What They Mean and What to Do
You turn on the lights one warm evening and see small winged insects circling the lamp, crawling on the windowsill, or lying in a pile of tiny wings on the floor. Termites with wings inside your house are no reason to panic, but you shouldn't ignore them either. They mean a termite colony is active somewhere in or near your home. The next step is to find out where, and that starts with a professional inspection.
Here's what flying termites in the house mean, how to tell them from flying ants, what to do right now, and how Oahu homeowners get the problem taken care of.
Found Termites With Wings Inside Your House? Do This First
- Don't spray them with bug spray. Killing the swarmers doesn't touch the colony, and it can make it harder for an inspector to tell what you have.
- Save a few samples. Put a few of the winged insects or loose wings in a sealed plastic bag, or take clear, close-up photos.
- Note where you found them. Was it one room, one window, near a light or near a wall? That helps pinpoint the source.
- Turn off extra lights. Swarmers are drawn to light, so shut off lights you don't need and keep screens and doors closed during a swarm.
- Vacuum up the rest. Once you've saved samples, vacuum up the insects and wings.
- Call for an inspection. A trained inspector can tell you which termite you have and whether the colony is inside your home.
What Are Termites With Wings?
Termites with wings are called alates, or swarmers. They are the reproductive members of a termite colony. When a colony is mature and conditions are right, it sends out swarmers to pair up and start new colonies. After a short flight, the alates drop down and shed their wings.
Worker termites are the ones that actually eat wood, and they stay hidden inside the wood or their mud tubes. The winged swarmers are the only part of the colony you usually see, while the workers doing the damage stay out of sight.
Why Termites With Wings Show Up Inside Your House
There are two main reasons you'll find flying termites in the house:
- The colony is inside or right next to your home. Swarmers come out of the wood or soil where their colony lives. If they're coming out of walls, window frames, furniture or baseboards, the colony may be inside the structure itself.
- Your lights drew them in. According to the University of Hawaii Termite Project, Formosan subterranean termite swarmers are attracted to the nearest light source, usually a street light or house lights. On a swarm night, an open door or a torn screen can let them in from outside.
Either way, the swarmers came from a colony big enough to swarm, and it's living somewhere close by. In Hawaii that colony can be very large. The UH Termite Project reports that Formosan subterranean termite colonies range from 2 to 10 million individuals.
What It Means When You See Termites With Wings Indoors
How worried you should be depends on where and how you find them.
Oahu's warm, humid climate keeps termites active all year. If you see a swarm, get your home checked instead of waiting to see what happens.
Which Termites With Wings Are Found in Hawaii?
Hawaii has more than one type of termite, and they swarm at different times of day. The University of Hawaii termite identification guide lists these swarmers:
Formosan subterranean and West Indian drywood termites are both found statewide. Formosan termites nest in the soil and travel up into homes through mud tubes. Drywood termites never need contact with the soil. They live right inside the wood they eat, such as framing, trim, furniture and the wood of older homes.
Termites With Wings vs. Flying Ants
Flying ants swarm too, and plenty of people mix the two up. Here's how to tell them apart:
If you still aren't sure, save a sample and have it checked. If they turn out to be ants, we handle ant problems on Oahu too.
When Do Termites Swarm in Hawaii?
In Hawaii, Formosan subterranean termites swarm mainly in May and June, but small swarms can happen at any time of year. They swarm on warm, humid, nearly windless nights, and each swarm lasts about half an hour. That's why so many Oahu homeowners first notice them in the evening, flying around porch lights, lanai lights and lamps near open windows.
Drywood termites follow their own schedule. West Indian drywood termites swarm at night, and some other drywood species swarm in the morning or during the day. So winged insects you find in daylight can still be termites.
Other Signs of Termites to Check For
Swarmers are often the first sign people notice, but they usually aren't the only one. Look for:
- Discarded wings on windowsills, in spider webs, or under lights and doors
- Mud tubes on foundations, walls, pipes or inside cabinets
- Frass, which is small pellets that look like sand or sawdust, piling up under wood
- Damaged wood that sounds hollow, feels soft or has blistered paint
- Sticking doors and windows, or sagging areas in floors or trim
A professional termite inspection covers the inside and outside of your home. The inspector checks for mud tubes, damaged wood, discarded wings and droppings, and uses tools like moisture meters to find hidden activity.
How Winged Termites Are Treated on Oahu
The right treatment depends on which termite you have, where the colony is and how far it has spread. After the inspection, your options may include:
- Tent fumigation for drywood termite activity that has spread through a structure
- Localized spot treatments for smaller, contained drywood infestations
- Sentricon colony elimination, a baiting system for subterranean termites like the Formosan termite
- Soil barrier treatments to protect the home from subterranean termites coming up from the ground
- Ongoing service plans that keep checking for new activity
See how our termite control services work, or learn what to expect from whole-home tent fumigation on Oahu. For more on why Hawaii termites need a local approach, read about termite treatment built for Oahu's pest behavior.
Buying or Selling a Home? Winged Termites Matter
If termites with wings show up while you're in escrow, get them checked quickly. Swarmers and shed wings are exactly the kind of evidence a termite inspection report will note. Xtermco provides termite inspection reports for Oahu home sales. Escrow companies, agents, buyers and sellers can submit a termite inspection report request online.
For Property Managers and Commercial Buildings
In apartments, offices, hotels, schools and warehouses, winged termites often show up first around lobby lights, stairwells and windows. Take tenant reports of flying termites seriously, because the colony behind them may be affecting more than one unit. An inspection finds the source, and recurring service keeps checking the property after treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Termites With Wings Inside the House
Does seeing termites with wings inside my house mean I have an infestation?
It means a mature colony is close by, though not always inside the house itself. If swarmers are coming out of walls, frames or furniture, the colony may be inside the structure. An inspection is the only way to know for sure.
Should I spray flying termites in my house?
Spraying the swarmers won't stop the colony. Save a few for identification, vacuum the rest and schedule an inspection.
Why do winged termites gather around lights?
Formosan termite swarmers are attracted to the nearest light source. That's why you'll often find them around porch lights, lamps and windows in the evening.
What time of year do termites swarm on Oahu?
Formosan subterranean termites swarm mainly in May and June, on warm, humid, nearly windless nights. Small swarms can happen any time of year, and drywood termites swarm on their own schedules.
I only found wings, not termites. Is that a problem?
Yes. Termites shed their wings after they land, so piles of wings mean a swarm has already happened nearby.
Are termites with wings the same as flying ants?
No. Termites have a thick waist, straight antennae and wings about equal in length. Ants have a pinched waist, elbowed antennae and longer front wings.
Will the problem go away after the swarm ends?
No. The swarm ends, but the colony that sent it out is still there. Worker termites keep feeding out of sight until the colony is treated.
Seeing Winged Termites? Call Xtermco
Xtermco has been protecting Oahu homes and businesses from termites since 1961. We know Formosan termites, drywood termites and the older island homes they go after. We're licensed (Lic # PC-201), and our employees go through pre-employment and quarterly drug testing. We offer same-day service and free estimates, and we'll tell you what you have and what happens next.
Call (808) 591-2922 or request a free termite estimate today.