If you see termites in and around your home, you are most likely looking at winged (swarming) termites. Once or twice a year, mature termite colonies send out reproductive termites (called alates) to start colonies. Compared to workers, alates have wings, fully developed eyes and much darker and harder bodies. Based on these characteristics, some homeowners may confuse termite swarmers with flying ants.

Color of Termites by Caste
Termites are divided into three main castes based on their roles and responsibilities in the colony. Termites’ color and physical characteristics vary based on the tasks they need to complete.

Nymph & Worker Termites
Generally speaking, nymph and worker termites are pale in color and have soft bodies.

Soldier Termites

Drywood Soldier Termite Picture:

The soldier termites’ soft bodies are often pale in color. Their enlarged heads are hard and may be a wide variety of colors, from yellow to reddish-orange to black.

Reproductive Termites

Winged alates may be pale yellow to light brown, or dark brown to black. Their hard bodies and dark color help them retain moisture, which enables them to leave their nests without drying out.

Termites’ wing colors vary by species, ranging from colorless, almost translucent, to gray or brown. The number of veins in wings is often a clue to the species. Drywood termites and most dampwood termites have front wings with three major veins, while subterranean, Formosan and some dampwood termites have front wings with two major veins.

Secondary and tertiary reproductives are light in color, similar to worker termites. However, termites in these castes also have wing buds that differentiate them from workers.

Drywood Termite Worker

Worker Termite Closeup

Nevada Dampwood Soldier

Queen Termite

Termite queen surrounded by other members of the colony.

Flying Termites
A swarming termite has straight antennae and two sets of equal-length wings. Termite swarmers appear to have two body segments with straight abdomens. A termite’s wings are approximately twice the length of its body.

Most subterranean termites swarm in the spring or summer, while drywood termites typically swarm in the late summer or fall. Some termite species may swarm as late as November in warmer climates.

Flying Ants
Flying ants have antennae that are bent in the middle, a pair of long wings and a pair of short wings. A flying ant’s wings are approximately the same length as its body. A flying ant also has three distinct body segments that narrow at the waist.

Swarm season for flying ants depends on the species; each species may swarm at a different time in the year.

While some homeowners may think of ants as just a nuisance, some ant species can damage homes and buildings. Carpenter ants, unlike termites, do not eat wood. Instead, carpenter ants excavate wood to create nests.

Due to their unique biology and behavior, termites and ants require different control methods. If you see flying insects in and around your home, contact your pest control expert for positive identification of ants, termites and other wood-destroying insects.

Picture of Subterranean Termite Colony:

Closeup of Swarmer:

Group of Swarmers on Wood

Termite Swarm on Wood Stump

Group of winged termites

Winged termites on crack in wall

Winged termites crawling of out of a crack, getting ready to swarm.

Subterranean Termite Tubes:

Termite Mud Tube in a Window Screen:

Termite Tubes on Plywood:

House Foundation / Basement:

Picture of Subterranean Termite Colony:

Closeup of Swarmer:

Group of Swarmers on Wood

Termite Swarm on Wood Stump

Group of winged termites

Winged termites on crack in wall

Winged termites crawling of out of a crack, getting ready to swarm.

Depending on the species, swarming termites range from 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch long. Including the length of the wings, the largest termites found in the U.S. can measure 1 inch long.

Swarming termites have two sets of wings that are equal in length and almost double the length of the termite’s body.

Termite wings range from pale, almost translucent, in color to gray or brown, and they have a few distinct veins running through the front set. Some alates can be identified by the particular vein formation in their wings. Subterranean termites typically have only two pigmented veins in their front wings, while drywood and dampwood termites often have three or more pigmented veins.

Winged Termite (Alate) Closeup:

Termites Lose their Wings
Alates lose their wings soon after they swarm. In fact, the presence of several same-size termite wings around windowsills may be the only evidence that a swarm has taken place.

Termite wings in and around your home can indicate either a subterranean or drywood termite infestation. Swarming dampwood termites also lose their wings; however, they do not infest homes often so you are not likely to find their wings inside your house.

Due to their smaller colony size, drywood termite swarms are much smaller in number than subterranean termite swarms, possibly as small as 10 swarmers. At this swarm size, you are far less likely to notice discarded drywood termite wings.

If you see insect wings in your home, contact a pest control expert for positive identification and recommendations for treatment and prevention methods.

Mass of Swarmers on Wood