Bug Out Pest Solutions guide
Flying Termites After a Brisbane Storm: What It Means
A storm rolls through on a humid November evening and by morning there are wings all over the windowsill. Termite flights happen across Brisbane's north from spring into summer, and they are one of the few times termites show themselves. Here is what a swarm means for your home.
What you are seeing
The flying insects are winged termites, called alates. A mature colony sends them out to pair up and start new colonies. They leave in big numbers, usually on still, muggy evenings around storms, and they are drawn to lights.
Once they land they drop their wings. That is why the pile of wings on the sill or around a porch light is often the only thing left by morning.
Flying ant or flying termite?
Flying ants turn up at the same time of year and get mixed up with termites all the time. Look at the waist and the wings. A termite has a thick, straight body with no pinched waist, and its four wings are all about the same length. A flying ant has a narrow waist and front wings longer than the back pair.
If you are not sure, put a few in a zip-lock bag or take a close photo. It helps us confirm what you have.
Does a swarm mean my house has termites?
A swarm can come from somewhere else. Alates fly in from a colony in a neighbour's yard, a tree in the street or bushland nearby. Suburbs with plenty of established trees, like Albany Creek, Eatons Hill and Cashmere, see a lot of flights.
Swarmers coming from inside the house are a more serious sign. Wings piled near a skirting board, a window frame inside or an internal wall suggest a colony is already in or under the building. Treat that as a reason to book an inspection soon.
What to do on the night
Turn off outside lights you can do without and close the windows. Vacuum up the termites and wings inside. A household fly spray will knock down the ones you can see, but it won't reach the colony they came from.
Before you empty the vacuum, take a photo of what you collected and write down which room it was in. Leave any mud tubes or damaged timber alone.
How we check the property
Our inspection covers the subfloor, external timber, garden beds against the house, retaining walls and anywhere timber touches the ground. We look for mud tubes and damage patterns that confirm activity.
You get a written report with what we found, and if there is activity, a treatment matched to it. That can be a chemical soil treatment, baiting stations or direct treatment of a nest, depending on the species and how established the colony is.
We are based in Brendale and get calls after every big storm from Strathpine, Bracken Ridge and Warner. If you have seen wings this season, call 0426 263 320.
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Common questions
When do termites swarm in Brisbane?
Flights are most common from spring into summer, on warm, humid evenings, often around storms. A colony can send out more than one flight in a season.
Can flying termites damage my house?
The winged ones don't eat timber themselves. They come from a colony that does, and the worker termites in that colony cause the damage.
Should I get an inspection if I only saw a few wings?
Yes, especially if the wings were inside or it has been a while since your last inspection. A written report tells you whether there is activity on your property.
Want us to take a look?
Call 0426 263 320 or send us a message for a free quote.