On a warm, humid evening you notice dozens of winged insects around a light, a window or the back step. By morning there are little wings scattered on the floor. Many Newcastle and Lake Macquarie homeowners see this in spring, and the first question is always the same: are these flying termites or flying ants?
The answer matters, but maybe not in the way you expect. Here is how to tell them apart, what a swarm does and does not tell you, and what to do next.
Why termites fly
Termites start new colonies by sending winged adults out of the nest on a colonising flight. According to the Australian Museum, these flights happen in warm, humid weather, usually in spring and autumn. The winged termites are future kings and queens. Once a pair finds a site, they drop their wings, hollow out a small chamber and the new queen starts laying eggs.
So the scattered wings you find inside are a common sign that a flight has happened nearby.
Flying termites vs flying ants: the quick checks
You don’t need a microscope. Catch one and look closely at these four features, based on the Australian Museum’s guide:
| Feature | Termite | Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Antennae | Straight, like a string of beads | Elbowed, with a bend |
| Waist | No waist, the body is thick all the way along | Pinched, narrow waist |
| Wings | Two pairs of equal size, with no obvious veins | Front wings bigger than back wings, strongly veined |
| End of the body | Blunt | Pointed |
One more thing worth knowing: “white ants” aren’t ants at all. Termites belong to a different group of insects from true ants. Termites eat wood and grasses and can cause extensive damage to buildings. Ants are scavengers. Some nest in damp or rotting wood, but they don’t eat it.
What a swarm does and doesn’t tell you
The winged termites are not the ones that eat your house. The damage is done by the workers, which are pale, blind and soft-bodied. They rarely leave the nest or the mud tunnels they build, which is why termite activity so often goes unnoticed.
A swarm of flying termites tells you a mature colony is somewhere nearby. It might be in a tree, a stump or buried timber in the yard, or a neighbour’s property. It might be in your home. A swarm alone can’t tell you which. Standards Australia notes that colonies that infest buildings usually start outside and come in through the ground.
That’s the question only a proper inspection can answer.
What to do if you see a swarm
- Don’t spray or disturb the area. Spraying flying termites does nothing about the colony, and disturbing activity can make it harder to track down later.
- Keep a sample. Take a clear photo, or put a few insects or wings in a sealed container or zip-lock bag. This helps identify what you are dealing with.
- Note where you saw them. Inside near a light or window, coming from a crack, or outside around the garden? Where they came from is useful information.
- Have a look for other signs. Mud tubes on walls, piers or slab edges, skirting boards or door frames that sound hollow when tapped, and bubbling paint. Our guide to the 5 signs of termite damage covers what to look for.
- Book a termite inspection. An inspector can check the building, look for the colony and tell you whether termites are active in your home.
Make your home less inviting
The Australian Museum points out that subterranean termites can only become building pests where they have a constant water source. Leaking pipes and roofs, and pot plants sitting on pavers, are common causes. The Australian Government’s YourHome guide recommends:
- Fix leaking taps, pipes, roofs and downpipes.
- Keep garden beds, soil and mulch away from the walls of the house.
- Keep at least 100mm of the slab edge exposed where you can, so termite tunnels are visible.
- Keep at least 400mm of clearance under suspended timber floors and make sure the subfloor is well ventilated.
- Check that ant caps and termite barriers are intact.
Other risk factors YourHome lists include slab-on-ground homes with poor clearance, tree roots or buried timber near the house, and cracks in slabs.
Don’t wait for the next swarm
A swarm is a warning, but by the time you see one the colony is already well established. That’s why YourHome recommends an annual termite inspection by a reputable, licensed inspector, alongside physical barriers and good clearance, as the best protection.
Elite Building & Pest Services carries out termite inspections across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Port Stephens and the Hunter. If you’ve seen flying termites around your home, or you’re due for your yearly check, book an inspection or call us on (02) 4954 6415. You can also read more about our termite inspections, see a real termite nest we tracked down, or learn about termite treatment options.
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- admin@elitebps.com.au
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Sources: Australian Museum, Termites (australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/termites/) and What are the differences between ants and termites? (australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/what-are-the-differences-between-ants-and-termites/); Standards Australia, Australia’s termite management standard revised (standards.org.au); YourHome, Repairs and maintenance (yourhome.gov.au/buy-build-renovate/repairs-and-maintenance).