I found a winged termite- that's bad right?

[ktzmoh]

Ug we found a winged termite in the house. It was close to a door that was open, so it could have come in from outside or could have been from inside the house. Obviously I'll call for an inspection, but it's bad to find one of those, right? What are the chances that it's not an infestation? Ug I don't want them to have to fumigate...

What is it with this house? First the bees, then the black widows and now termites?

[ktzmoh]

Oct 8, 2015 22:27:58 GMT -5 @juno said:

They are swarming like crazy in our area right now. They are underground termites that are swarming, I think, and there's a very good chance it came in the door. They swarm in the evening and are attracted to light. I've seen swarms just as bad in the past, I don't think this year is special.

One got in our house the other night and DH almost tore up my kitchen trying to find it. I left a glass of wine out and it was dead in there the next morning. That's the only one we've seen inside, so I'm not very worried. We've been inspected and had some preventative stuff sprayed in the past. We haven't had any problems noted with the inspections. That pretty much has nothing to do with answering your question, but you're not alone

Hi @juno! Actually that's really comforting. I just need some hope This is the only one we've seen inside too  - so maybe that's a good sign. Probably best to get inspected anyway since it's been a while.

[heliocentric]

Are you sure it's a termite? Do you have one you can squash? We once had a swarm and I called the exterminator in a panic. They told me if it smelled like citrus when squashed it was a citronella ant and not a termite. These ants are harmless and often mistaken for termites.

[treedimensional]

It's defiitely not a good sign. Ant or termite. www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2009/3-25/termites.html

[ktzmoh]

Oct 9, 2015 5:47:32 GMT -5 heliocentric said:

Are you sure it's a termite? Do you have one you can squash? We once had a swarm and I called the exterminator in a panic. They told me if it smelled like citrus when squashed it was a citronella ant and not a termite. These ants are harmless and often mistaken for termites.

Pretty sure it's a termite. We captured it in a jar and compared it to pictures. Either way I'll have someone come do an inspection

[mrs.jacinthe]

I'd say definitely worth an inspection, and this reminded me to call and have our annual pest control inspection done - although there's a confession there in that we haven't had one done since we bought the house.