Termite Alate (Swarmer)
Scientific Name: Reticulitermes flavipes (common example)
Order & Family: Isoptera (or Blattodea); Rhinotermitidae
Size: 6mm to 10mm (1/4 to 3/8 inch in length)
Natural Habitat
Subterranean nests, decaying wood, or inside building structures with high moisture
Diet & Feeding
Cellulose from wood, paper, and plant materials; processed by symbiotic gut protozoa
Behavior Patterns
Alates emerge in large swarms during spring or after rain to find mates and establish new colonies; they shed wings shortly after landing
Risks & Benefits
Structural risk to homes and wood buildings; ecological benefit by decomposing dead wood and recycling nutrients back into the soil
Identified on: 5/16/2026