Termite swarms are one of the more visible — and more misunderstood — signs of termite activity. In Virginia, swarm season for subterranean termites (the species responsible for the vast majority of termite damage in the state) typically peaks in April and May, though isolated swarms can happen at other times of year, particularly indoors, where warmth can trigger a swarm outside the normal outdoor season.
What a swarm actually is
A swarm is a mature termite colony releasing winged reproductive termites — called alates or swarmers — whose job is to fly off, mate, and start new colonies elsewhere. Seeing a swarm doesn't necessarily mean the colony is in your home specifically, but it does mean there's an active, mature colony nearby, which is worth taking seriously either way.
After swarming, the winged termites shed their wings — finding small discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or foundation walls is often the clearest sign a swarm happened nearby, even if you didn't see the swarm itself.
Termites vs. flying ants
Termite swarmers are commonly mistaken for flying ants, since both have wings and swarm around the same time of year. A few differences worth knowing:
- Termites have a straight, thick waist; ants have a pinched, narrow waist
- Termite wings are equal in length; ant wings are unequal, with the front pair longer than the back
- Termite antennae are straight; ant antennae are bent (elbowed)
If there's any uncertainty, it's worth getting a professional opinion rather than guessing — the two look similar enough at a glance that misidentifying one for the other is common, and the stakes of getting it wrong (structural damage versus a harmless nuisance) are very different.
What to do if you see one
Virginia sits in a moderate-to-heavy termite risk zone, and subterranean termites are active underground essentially year-round here, not just during swarm season — the swarm is just the moment they become visible. If you see a swarm, or find discarded wings, a WDI (wood-destroying insect) inspection is the right next step to determine whether there's activity affecting your specific property.
Worth knowing: termite treatment requires a separate state license from general pest control, which is why we connect Hampton Roads homeowners with a trusted, licensed termite specialist rather than guessing at the work ourselves.
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