When Do Termites Swarm in Texas?
If you’ve lived in Dallas, Richardson, or Plano for a few years, you’ve probably seen it: a warm, humid evening after rain, and suddenly hundreds of winged insects pour out of a crack in the foundation or a tree stump. That’s a termite swarm, and in North Texas it typically happens between February and May, when subterranean termite colonies send out reproductive “swarmers” to start new colonies nearby.
By August, peak swarm season has already passed for the year, but that doesn’t mean termites have gone anywhere. The swarm is just the one time termites make themselves visible. The colony feeding on wood inside or under your home keeps working quietly the other eleven months of the year.
Swarming Termites vs. Flying Ants: How to Tell the Difference
Homeowners often mistake a termite swarm for flying ants, which also swarm in Texas around the same time. A few quick ways to tell them apart:
- Waist: Termites have a thick, straight waist; ants have a pinched, narrow waist.
- Wings: Termite swarmers have two pairs of wings that are equal in length; ant wings are unequal, with the front pair longer than the back.
- Antennae: Termite antennae are straight; ant antennae are bent, or “elbowed.”
If you’re not sure which one you’re looking at, a licensed technician can identify it in minutes, and it’s worth finding out, since a termite swarm in or near your home is a strong sign of an active colony.
Why Late Summer Is Still a Good Time to Inspect
Even outside of swarm season, termite damage doesn’t pause. Subterranean termites, the species most common in the Dallas area, build mud tubes to travel between soil and wood, and they can cause significant structural damage before any visible sign appears above ground. Scheduling an inspection now, months before next spring’s swarm, gives you time to catch and treat a problem before it grows, and to have protection already in place before swarmers show up again.
Signs of Termite Activity to Watch For Year-Round
- Mud tubes running along the foundation, crawl space, or exterior walls
- Discarded wings near windowsills or doors (a leftover sign from a past swarm)
- Wood that sounds hollow when tapped, or that crumbles or flakes unexpectedly
- Paint that looks bubbled or wood that appears warped, especially near ground level
- Small pinholes in drywall, sometimes with fine debris underneath
Any one of these on its own is worth a call. Together, they usually mean an active infestation that needs professional treatment, not a DIY spray.
Protecting Your Home Before Next Spring
The best defense against termites is a professional inspection and, where needed, a treatment or bait system installed before the colony grows. HK Pest Control Services is licensed and insured (TPCL #13923) and serves homeowners throughout Dallas, Richardson, and Plano with termite inspections and treatment plans built around how North Texas termites actually behave.
Don’t wait for next year’s swarm to find out you have a problem. Call HK Pest Control Services at 469-618-9991 for a termite inspection and a free quote, backed by our satisfaction guarantee.
