Every spring I get the same call. “Ed, there’s a bunch of flying bugs by my window and a pile of wings on the sill. Are those termites?” Sometimes the answer is no, they’re flying ants. Sometimes it’s yes. Either way, it’s worth knowing the difference and knowing what to do next. And while swarm season is still a few months away, fall and winter are a good time to fix the conditions that draw termites to a house in the first place.
The Termites We Have in South Jersey
According to Rutgers, all of the naturally occurring termites in the northeastern U.S. are subterranean termites. As the name says, they nest in the soil, not in your walls. They travel to wood through the ground or through mud tubes they build, feed, and head back. Eastern subterranean termites are the ones we see most around here.
Rutgers notes that a mature colony can have 60,000 to 1 million termites, and most of them are workers that forage for wood and other cellulose material around the clock.
When Termites Swarm
Rutgers says most people first run into termites in spring, when swarmers, the winged reproductives, leave the nest. Hundreds or thousands of swarmers come out on warm, sunny days between April and June. After a short flight they drop their wings and pair up to look for a damp, sheltered place to start a new colony.
That’s why a pile of wings on a windowsill or near a door is such a common clue. Rutgers points out that this swarm is when most homeowners first notice termites in their homes. Swarmers only appear once or twice a year from a mature colony, so if you see them indoors, don’t ignore it.
Termite or Flying Ant? How to Tell
Rutgers gives a simple checklist:
- Wings: Termite swarmers have front and back wings about the same size. Flying ants have back wings much smaller than the front.
- Wing color: Termite wings look dusky. Ant wings are clear.
- Wing veins: Weak on termites, very distinct on ants.
- Waist: Termites have a thick body with no pinched waist. Ants have a thin, pinched waist.
- Antennae: Termite antennae are straight and beadlike. Ant antennae are elbowed.
If you can, catch a few in a jar or snap a close-up photo. It makes identification a lot easier.
Other Signs to Look For
Rutgers recommends checking areas where moisture and wood meet: windowsills, the bottoms of door frames, crawlspaces, basements and the foundation just above ground. Look for:
- Mud tubes running up the foundation, piers or beams
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped
- Termites in mulch beds right against the foundation
Rutgers also notes that telling old damage from new damage is tough for a homeowner, and that termite activity in the Northeast almost always starts from outside. That’s why they encourage an experienced professional inspection and suggest inspecting at least once a year.
Fix These Before Swarm Season
Prevention is easier than repairs. Rutgers’ recommendations, which match what I’ve seen on South Jersey homes for years:
- Avoid wood-to-soil contact. Ideally, wood on a structure sits at least 6 inches above the soil.
- Keep firewood and mulch from piling up against the house. Rock or rubber mulch near the foundation helps.
- Fix leaks and make sure gutters and downspouts carry water away from the foundation.
- Make sure crawlspaces are properly ventilated.
- Remove stumps and trim back shrubs right next to the foundation.
- Don’t bury wood scraps or stumps when building or landscaping.
Plenty of homes in older towns and on rural lots around here have exactly these conditions: old porches, wood steps on the ground and mulch beds piled high against the siding.
What a Termite Visit Looks Like
When I come out, I go over the house from the foundation up, inside and out, checking the spots Rutgers mentions and the ones I’ve learned to check over the years. If I find activity, I’ll show you what I found and walk you through the treatment options that make sense for your home, using proven methods and eco-friendly products, applied carefully. Learn more on our termite control page. Own a rental, a shop or a farm building? See our commercial pest control page.
Seen Wings on the Windowsill?
Don’t wait on termites. Call me at 856-599-9376, Monday through Saturday, 8 to 6. Zero Pests is veteran-owned and serves Salem, Gloucester and Cumberland counties, including Mullica Hill and Glassboro. NJ license #92354B.
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