How to Get Rid of Flying Termites in Your House

Termites are insects that can be very destructive. They are often unnoticed until when their damage is extensive and visible. Termites can destroy thousands of items in a house. The list includes wood, paper, boxes, and cardboard. Flying termites are a category of termites whose work is to reproduce and create other colonies. The termites that leave their colony at a particular time of the year go out and mate, forming colonies of thousands and millions of termites. They are also called swarmers.

Flying termites are often confused with the swarming ant because of their similarity in size and color. However, on a closer look, you can differentiate the two insects. Through the wings, you can easily tell the difference. The termites have two sets of wings that are equal in size. On the other hand, ants have forewings that are larger than the hind wings.

Effects of Light

These termites are attracted to light. They are attracted to most forms of light, both artificial and natural. During the daytime, their love for the light makes them be seen commonly at windows and doors. 

At night the termites are often seen in their swarms near street lights, bulbs, and other artificial light sources. This effect makes them very irritating to people. They can even prevent the amount of light spread across a room as they block the light while moving around it.

Termites in Your Home

Swarming termites bring one of the most damages to your house compared to other pests. It is because they can be undetected for a very long time. Some of the things they do are:

• Destroy window panes (especially if made of wood)
  
• Damage paper products/documents (termites like eating paper)
  
• Disrupt house structure (more so if you have wooden beams)
  
• Eat-through wooden furniture (e.g. chairs, cabinets, tables, etc.)

Signs of Termites

Although termites can be difficult to find, they often leave behind signs of their presence. They include:

• Seeing the swarmers (especially around sources of light)
  
• Wood that sounds hollow
  
• Tiny paper droppings on books
  
• Tunnels in wood
  
• Rattling and clicking sounds
  
• Frass or larvae droppings
  
• Mud tubes (termite housing or tunnels)
  

Removing Termite Swarms
Getting rid of the termites could be a tough job to do and may even require professional guidance. Below are common ways of doing the job.

Using Rubber Mulch

Rubber mulch is commonly available at most hardware stores. It is made out of recycled tire material. Rubber mulch does not contain cellulose. It will repel the termites away as they are looking for cellulose which is contained in regular soils. It prevents subterranean termites from coming to your yard.

Bug Zappers

Like other insects, termites, especially the swarming termites, love light very much. Through this factor, bug zappers make an artificial light that will attract them and then electrocute them. However, bug zappers are kept outside the house. If you want to eradicate the swarmers inside your house, you can use a fly swatter and kill them yourself. While doing both of these forms of control, it is necessary to reduce the sources of light. 

The insects will then move to one common point. It makes it easier to deal with them, especially for the bug zapper. 

Orange-Oily Spray

It is also another method that professionals recommend. The orange oil spray contains a compound that kills the swarmer termites. The same component also gives citric fruits and oranges their good smells. Using it is very easy; you spray at termites directly if you see them or places with termite activities.

Cardboard Trap

The cardboard trap is very easy to understand and do. It requires you to use the cardboard as a trap to attract the termites and get rid of them. Termites love and eat anything that contains cellulose. Cardboard is one of the materials that contain it and is used to attract them. After placing a piece of wet cardboard in an infected area, the termites would be attracted to it and come to eat it up. After most of them have fallen for the trap, you can use an insecticide to destroy them.

Boric Acid

This acid is a very effective insecticide. The acid is not toxic, and it generally kills most insects in a room, including termites. The acid, which is in the form of a powder, can be applied at the house's entry points. This acid should, however, be placed from the reach of children.

In conclusion, termites that grow into swarmers are unnoticeable and destroy expensive properties. We should be keen on looking for signs of their presence and destroy them quickly.