2012 Arizona Termites Swarm Season underway!

Metro Phoenix area homeowners are reporting large swarms of winged Arizona termites in and around their homes as recent monsoon rains have kicked off the 2012 swarm season. 

Native Subterranean termites (Heterotermes) are the most common and destructive species of termites found in the Phoenix area.  Heterotermes in Arizona are notorious for attacking homes, wood utility poles, wood structures and creating millions of dollars worth of damage yearly.

Native subterranean termites are usually 4-6 times smaller than other species which give them a unique ability to enter a structure undetected via small expansion joints and stress cracks.  While colonies tend to be smaller in size this species will often co-exist with 10-15 other colonies on the same lot.  Homes under attack by multiple colonies can be damaged in a relatively short time.

Native subterranean termites prefer to eat the soft wood of a two by four which contains the most moisture and is easier to digest. Damaged wood appears honeycombed, with soil in the galleries. 

Native subterranean termites are less dependent on moisture and decay than other subterranean termites in Arizona. They will readily attack dry, sound wood. A typical sign of infestation is the presence of drop tubes coming from the ceiling joists and drywall, or shelter tubes appearing on the stem wall.  

Native subterranean termites prefer to forage in shaded soil and/or areas made wet by recent rainfall.  

They construct mud shelter tubes up stem walls, over or around solid objects in order to reach a food source. These mud-tubes are slender, solidly built and pale yellow to tan in color. Darker soil usually indicates fresh tubes with a high moisture content.  As tubes age (dry out) they become lighter in color and brittle. 

The mud-tubes are more circular in cross section than those of the other Arizona subterranean termites whose mud-tubes are flattened in cross section and dirty light brown in color.  

Native subterranean termites often swarm at night during the monsoon season, from July to September, usually shortly after rain storms. The moist soil provides the nuptial swarmers with the best chance of surviving and developing a new colony. The male and female pair off and enter the soil where they excavate a cavity or cell.  

A well-developed mature colony may contain more than 300,000 termites, including a large number of secondary reproductives (queens) that can readily break off from the primary colony to form separate colonies. Native subterranean termites commonly have a foraging territory of up to almost an acre.  

The first step in protecting your home against termite destruction is to have a yearly termite inspection.  If, and when termites invade your home will be the time to consider a termite treatment.

Drywood termites in Phoenix

Drywood termite swarmers in Phoenix

Drywood termites in Phoenix 

August 2, 2012 – Lisa Gartner of Bill’s Pest Termite Control reports an increase in calls reporting “flying ants” or “flying termites” from concerned homeowners across the valley.  Termite Inspectors responding to these calls are often finding evidence of Western Drywood Termites a sign that the summer swarm season is underway in Metro Phoenix

Western Drywood Termites are often misidentified as ant swarmers by less experienced exterminators. Drywood termites and ants share similar swarm seasons in Arizona.  It generally takes 4-7 years for drywood termites to produce swarmers so their presence is a sign of a mature colony nearby. 

Generally, the first sign of infestation is the discovery of cone shaped piles of fecal pellets or the presence of winged swarmers on windowsills, door frames or near lights. Discovery of damage is usually secondary. Swarmers found inside the house (if windows and doors have been closed), are an indication of infestation within the structure. Another indication of infestation is the presence of discarded wings near emergence sites, on windowsills or caught up in cobwebs. The presence of swarmers outdoors is a natural phenomenon and is not necessarily an indication of home infestation. 

Drywood termites in Phoenix spend their entire lives inside wood. They construct round “kick holes” in infested wood, through which the fecal pellets are pushed from their galleries or tunnels. These pellets accumulate in small piles below the kick holes, or will be scattered if the distance between the kick hole and the surface below is very great. Fecal pellets also may be found caught in spider webs. 

Fecal pellets are distinctive and used for identification of drywood termite infestation. Drywood fecal pellets are hard, elongated and less than 1/25 inch long. They have rounded ends and six flattened or concavely depressed sides with ridges at angles between the six surfaces. The characteristic shape results when the termite exerts pressure on the fecal material to extract and conserve moisture in its hindgut. Typically the pellets are a light tan in color with some black ones mixed in. 

Homeowners are encouraged to have their home inspected for termites at least once a year by a professional familiar with all species of termites Arizona. 

Drywood termites in Phoenix 602.308.4510