Subterranean Termite Alates (Swarmer)

Natural Habitat

In soil or inside wood structures with high moisture content and contact with the ground.

Diet & Feeding

Cellulose, primarily from wood, paper, and debris in contact with soil.

Behavior Patterns

Alates (reproductives) swarm in large numbers, usually after rain in the spring, to mate and establish new colonies. Once they land, they shed their wings and seek out soil and wood to start a nest.

Risks & Benefits

They pose a significant risk of structural damage to homes by consuming wooden supports. While ecologically beneficial as decomposers of dead wood in nature, they are highly destructive pests in human-built environments.

Identified on: 2/28/2026