What To Do If You Find Flying Termites In Your Garden

Few things fill homeowners with dread quite like the thought of termites. So it's understandable to be concerned if you see them flying around your garden. Fortunately, this doesn't necessarily mean that your home, patio, or even nearby trees are infested with these wood-eating pests, but it is a sign that you should take a careful look. And then take action depending on what you find.

Termites generally fly and swarm in the spring or fall as part of their reproductive cycle. They can also often be found right after a rain. These "swarmers" are usually 300 feet or less from where they emerged, so look around in your yard and garden to see if you can pinpoint where they came from. It may simply be from an underground burrow you can identify from a hole in your yard. It's also possible that termites could be growing in your raised garden bed. 

You'll also want to confirm that they really are termites and not flying ants, as they are both flying insects that burrow into the ground. Unlike ants, termites have thick waists, and their front and back sets of wings are the same size. While a swarmer here and there isn't an issue, they will quickly find a mate and then go set up a new colony of their own, filling your yard, garden, or even porch with more hungry termites.

If you have a large property and the swarm is nowhere near your structures or any prized trees, then you may be able to just leave them alone since termites play an important role in the ecosystem by helping with decomposition. But if you have a smaller yard or termites near your porch or patio, you'll need to take action.

Termites aren't generally a problem you can handle on your own. If you suspect they're living in your trees, porch, or close to your house, your best course of action is to call a pest control company. They can do a full inspection and determine if treatment is necessary. In many cases, termites in your favorite tree are a sign that the tree is already dead or dying, but there are some types of termites that can infest otherwise healthy trees. You'll want to have a pest control expert examine and treat the tree as soon as possible to prevent further damage. You may also want to have an arborist take a look at its overall health and to let you know how to treat any termite damage to the tree.