When Do Termites Have Wings?

Termites with wings are only produced once a colony is mature and needs to expand (approximately three to four years old). The swarm will leave the nest to seek out mates in order to form new colonies.

What time of year do termites have wings?

Young termites develop wings in the springtime in order to disperse from their parent colonies in swarms. These “swarmers,” or “alates” fly through mud tubes in the case of subterranean termites, or through the air in cases of drywood termites.

What does it mean when you see termite wings?

At certain times of the year, termite colonies produce “swarmers” - the winged adults (Figure 1) that fly away to form their own colonies. Swarming usually occurs during the daytime and is simply nature's way of reminding you that termites are nearby.