Home and Garden

Warm, Rainy Weather? Cue The Termite Swarms

Spring weather is prime time for termites. It's the time of year when they swarm, looking for new places to live. Here's the role weather plays, ways to spot termite damage and how to prevent a termite infestation in your home.

Spring Termite Warning Signs

Spring means warm, but also a potential swarm … of termites.

The most common type of termite in the U.S. is subterranean, which means they live primarily in the soil.

“As the seasons change from winter into spring, the soil temperatures begin to go up and that additional moisture in the soil is going to trigger termites swarming,” Jim Fredericks, National Pest Management senior vice president for public affairs and board-certified entomologist, said in a recent interview.

Swarming happens when large groups of winged termites set out looking to start a new colony. It's part of the cyclical nature of termite growth and typically occurs once a year.

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Spring rainstorms bring them out in force, including in areas known for cold winters. While weather isn't the only factor affecting termite swarms and no one can predict the exact time they might happen in any specific location, we can tell you if your area is expected to see more or less seasonal rain.

"This year, parts of the U.S. stretching from Chicago to New York, including states like Indiana and Ohio, are expected to have a wetter spring than usual," weather.com senior meteorologist Dina Knightly said. "Parts of the Southwest will see a drier spring than normal."

How To Know If You Have Termites

Termites cause more than $6.8 billion in damage across the U.S. each year. If they were a hurricane or severe weather outbreak, they might be considered a "billion-dollar disaster."

Swarms can be indoors or outdoors, and are easily confused with flying ants.

Watch for soil-colored tunnels around your property. Those are called mud shelter tubes, which Fredericks describes as highways that take termites from the soil up into a building.

"You'll see those tunnels over top of the foundation walls or over top of wood that they're feeding on," he said.

Damaged wood is another obvious clue.

A lesser known symptom of termite damage has to do with openings in your home.

"Doors and windows are notorious for leaking, and termites love moisture-damaged wood," Fredericks said. "And so if there's some moisture damage there or there's some termites that are actually causing some damage to the hidden parts of that house, those windows and doors might not move as well, and that could be a sign."

How To Prevent Termites

Weather also plays a role in making your home less hospitable to termites. Damage from storms or flooding can give termites an in, as can any source of moisture.

"Make sure that rainwater coming off of your house is diverted away from the foundation," Fredericks advises.

Also eliminate areas where wood structures, like porches for example, touch the ground and don't pile mulch above the siding on the side of your house.

Ensure your home is airtight, something that will also help with utility bills in cold or hot weather.

“If you can fit a credit card into a crack, a termite can find its way in," Fredricks said.

Pest control professionals and your local extension service can offer more advice and options, he added.