Termite alate (discarded wings)
Scientific Name: Isoptera (Infraorder)
Order & Family: Order Blattodea, various families (e.g., Rhinotermitidae)
Size: 6mm to 10mm (0.25 to 0.4 inches)
Natural Habitat
Subterranean or inside wooden structures; often found indoors after a seasonal mating flight.
Diet & Feeding
Cellulose-based materials such as wood, leaf litter, and paper product debris.
Behavior Patterns
Social insects that swarm in large numbers to mate and found new colonies; they shed their wings (dealates) immediately after landing.
Risks & Benefits
Structural risk to homes as they can cause significant damage to wooden foundations/framing; beneficial in nature as decomposers of dead wood.
Identified on: 4/29/2026