Subterranean Termite Alate (Swarmers)

Natural Habitat

Underground colonies or damp, rotting wood structures; often found emerging indoors during swarm events.

Diet & Feeding

Cellulose-based materials, primarily wood, paper, and plant fibers; they rely on symbiotic protozoa in their gut to digest it.

Behavior Patterns

Alates are the reproductive members of the colony that swarm in large numbers during spring or after rain to find a mate and start new colonies. After a short flight, they shed their wings (seen in the image) and crawl to find soil.

Risks & Benefits

They pose a significant risk to human structures by causing extensive structural damage to homes. In the ecosystem, they are beneficial as decomposers that turn dead wood into nutrient-rich soil.

Identified on: 4/10/2026