It happened again: New Orleans was hit with a huge swarm of Formosan termites on Monday following a weekend of heavy rainfall and warm temperatures. Other areas, such as Baton Rouge, are due for the same type of annual insect infestation.

May is the month when Formosa termites find their mates, so swarms of insects are cropping up all over the city. Much like an ant colony, a nest of termites consists of many types of the species – each with a different purpose. “Alates” are termites responsible for reproduction. They hang out in their nest until the weather conditions are right. Then their wings develop, just in time to go out and mate.

While it seems like a party for the termites, the swarming that occurs during the mating selection process is pretty annoying to humans. The termites congregate near any light source and fill the air. Resident geckos love the termite swarms — termites make tasty snacks.

After the termites mate, they find a place to live and grow. The pesticide-resistant Formosa termites infest buildings, trees, docks, your house… any wood structure that they can gnaw into, creating massive property damage. The newly coupled termites spend the next 3-5 years holed up in their new nest. Once they reach maturity, the female lays eggs and the new alate termites wait until the following May, when they can go out and swarm to find new mates.

Scott Bauer, U.S. Department of Agriculture via Wikimedia Commons
The Formosa termite is originally from China, but migrated to the U.S. in shipping containers. The termites are resistant to pesticide now, so infestations are becoming a real problem in Louisiana and Florida.
Don Pirolo/flickr
Swarms are typical this time of year, when weather conditions are perfect for mating. The "alates," or reproductive termites, grow their wings around the first week of May. Then they leave the nest and fly just a few hundred feet away to mate.
Ubi Desperare Nescio/flickr
The termites typically swarm toward to moon, which draws them away from their own nests. In our towns and cities, they’re drawn toward artificial light such as streetlights or porch lights.

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choking sun/Flickr
Bart Everson/flickr
Once the termites mate, they lose their wings. Then they search for a new nesting place -- one that includes water, protection from the elements and wood. Tree stumps are the prefect place. As are homes like yours and mine. This photo shows major termite damage to a home in New Orleans.
Bart Everson/flickr
Some termites don’t make it. After a large swarm, you’ll find lots of dead insects.

If you’re not already feeling crawly enough, check out this video posted on YouTube by NOLA.com. It shows swarming termites around a light fixture in New Orleans.

Have you had any experiences with termites?

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