Winged termite (alate)

Colonies live in soil, wood, or buildings; reproductive alates often appear near lights during swarming.

Workers feed on cellulose in wood, leaf litter, and other plant material; alates do not feed during their brief dispersal stage.

Alates emerge in groups, shed their wings after flight, and pair off to establish new colonies. The pictured insect’s long, narrow wings and body are consistent with a termite alate.

Termites recycle dead plant matter, but some species damage wooden structures. Identification to species would require a clearer view.