The Yale Pest Gazette: noteworthy tips and information on seasonal pests; updated often. Please come back.

Spring signals termite swarming season. As the weather becomes warmer the termites become more active.

If you see swarming insects that shed their wings shortly after emerging you may have a termite problem. These swarmers do not bite or do any damage themselves, their purpose is to pair off, mate and hopefully (for them) start a new colony. To you they serve as a warning that you have an active infestation present.

Often these insects are confused with swarming ants. The differences are quite obvious when you know what to look for. The ants have restricted or pinched waists and 3 distinct body segments should be readily visible. The swarming termite on the other hand has has a body that appears to be 1 segment and as stated before sheds it's wings shortly after emerging.

The termite swarmers (alates or winged reproductives) also have two pairs of wings nearly equal in length. The wings are almost clear to Smokey black. If you miss the swarm it's self you will often find the shed wings in the area they swarmed near. Places to look are around windows and glass doors, on top of appliances with overhead lighting on , and around door stoops.

If you find an insect and are unsure of what it is get a few samples and place them in a hard container like an aspirin bottle ,film canister or the like to avoid damaging the specimen. Most reputable Pest firms can identify these pests or you can find a local State extension service near you.

Termites cause damage to the wooden members of your home and should be dealt with. Do not panic, they are quite common and do not cause damage very quickly. Termite problems are best dealt with by Reputable professionals that understand termite behavior,habits and treatment techniques. Your home is a valuable asset-do not let price alone be the determining factor in your choice of professional termite services. Generally, even if you only see termites in one particular area the whole home still needs to be treated because in the State of Connecticut we deal with Eastern Subterranean Termites which come from the earth and feed on wooden elements of the building. The termites travel in mud (shelter) tubes as opposed to out in the open like ants. With floor, wall and other coverings in the home it is often impossible to detect if they are else where. Also, if you treat just the area they are seen in , the termites will most likely just circumvent the treated areas and come up somewhere else.

There are several treatment methods available. Two of the most common are:

1) Conventional Termiticide Treatments- where termiticides are placed in the soil and beneath concrete around the foundation to establish a barrier.

2) Bait Treatments- where monitoring devices are placed around the exterior or the building and when termites are found feeding in the monitoring stations they are baited with a material to eliminate the colony.