Are These Flying Ants or Termites In My House?

When thousands of winged insects start pouring out of your baseboards or fluttering around your porch light at dusk, it’s natural to panic. Are they flying ants? Or worse… swarming termites?

For homeowners along the Space Coast and Treasure Coast—especially those living in barrier island communities like Cocoa Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne Beach, Satellite Beach, Vero Beach, and Indian River Shores—recognizing the difference between a termite swarm and an ant swarm could mean saving thousands in repair bills.

Let’s break it down and help you take the right next step—before these pests make your home theirs.

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First Things First: What Should You Do if You See a Swarm?

If you witness a swarm—inside or outside—don’t grab the Raid. Here’s what to do instead:

1. Stay calm (really).
2. Look for the source of the swarm. Is it coming from inside your home or near exterior wood, mulch, tree roots, or moisture-heavy zones?
3. Mark the location with painter’s tape or chalk. This will help us identify their exit point.
4. Vacuum them up with a handheld vac or shop vac. Empty the contents into a sealed bag.
5. Save a few samples in a Ziploc bag or small container so we can professionally identify whether you’re dealing with ants or termites.
6. Call Pest & Lawn Organic Guard at 321-704-0434 or schedule a visit online. We’ll inspect the area, ID the pest, and help you eliminate it before serious damage begins.

You can even get a free subterranean termite estimate right now—just enter your home’s square footage.

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How to Tell the Difference: Termite Swarmers vs. Flying Ants

At first glance, swarming termites and flying ants look very similar. But three tell-tale physical signs that can help you figure out which is which.

Feature	Termite Swarmer	Flying Ant
Antennae	Straight	Elbowed/bent
Waist	Thick, straight	Pinched/narrow
Wings	Two pairs, same size, translucent	Two pairs, unequal size, tinted

Bonus tip: Termite wings are easily shed and often found near window sills or baseboards after a swarm. Ants tend to hold onto theirs until landing and mating.

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Why It Matters: Damage Potential

Flying ants, like carpenter ants, may look intimidating—but they don’t eat wood. They nest in it, yes, but the damage is typically minimal and repairable.

Termites, however, are a different beast entirely. They consume wood from the inside out, silently chewing through your structural framing, support beams, and even drywall. And by the time you see a swarm? The colony has likely been active for 3–5 years.

In fact, termites cause over $5 billion in damage annually across the U.S.—and homeowner’s insurance usually doesn’t cover it.

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Termite Swarming Seasons on the Space & Treasure Coast

We don’t just deal with one kind of termite down here in Florida—we’ve got three main offenders, and they each swarm at different times of year:

1. Eastern Subterranean Termites (the most common)

🕗 Swarm Timing: November through June
🌤️ When: Usually during the day, after rain, with calm air
🔍 Note: These are the #1 cause of termite damage in Brevard County. If you see swarmers in daylight, you’re probably looking at Eastern Subterraneans.

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2. Formosan Termites (the most destructive)

🕗 Swarm Timing: April through May
🌙 When: At dusk or at night, often after rain, and attracted to lights
📍 Note: Though relatively new to our area, Formosan colonies grow much faster than other species. A mature colony can contain over 10 million termites and destroy a home’s framing within months.

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3. West Indian Drywood Termites (the hardest to exterminate)

🕗 Swarm Timing: April through July
🌙 When: Dusk or nighttime, especially during humid, still evenings
🏠 Note: These termites don’t need contact with soil—they live entirely inside wood and are often found in attics, furniture, and wall studs.

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Why Do Termites Swarm?

Swarming is how termites reproduce and expand. Once a colony reaches maturity (about 3–5 years old), it releases thousands of winged reproductives—called alates—into the air. These winged termites pair off, drop their wings, and attempt to start new colonies wherever they land.

That could be your mulch bed.
Your wall void.
Or a dead log in the next door vacant lot.

If you’re seeing a swarm inside your home, you already have an infestation—and it needs to be addressed ASAP.

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Flying Ants: When & Why They Swarm

Flying ants also swarm to reproduce, but usually in late spring or summer depending on the species. These swarms are typically shorter in duration and don’t indicate a structural threat the way termite swarms do.

However, species like Carpenter Ants can still cause damage by tunneling into moist wood, especially in older beachside homes or condos with roof or plumbing leaks.

If you’ve seen flying ants around your home, check out our Carpenter Ant Control and Rover Ant Control pages for DIY tips and treatment options.

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Still Not Sure What You Saw? Let Us ID It for You.

That’s what we’re here for. Pest & Lawn Organic Guard isn’t a faceless franchise. We’re a veteran-owned, barrier-island-based pest control company offering expert service with a personal touch—no pushy sales reps, just real solutions.

✅ Local termite ID and inspection
✅ Free subterranean termite estimates by square footage
✅ Barrier island and mainland coverage
✅ Affordable, eco-conscious termite treatments

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Ready to Protect Your Home?

📞 Call David at 321-704-0434
🖥️ Or Schedule Your Inspection Online
🏡 Get a FREE subterranean termite estimate—just enter your home’s square footage.

Don’t let swarming season sneak up on you. If you think you saw termites (or even if you hope they’re ants), call now and get peace of mind before they settle in for good.

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Pest & Lawn Organic Guard — Pest Control with Precision, Heart, and a Whole Lot of Experience.

FAQ’s Swarming Termites or Ants

💡 GENERAL FAQ: Swarmers & Identification

🕵️‍♂️ SIGNS, BEHAVIOR & SEASONALITY

🧼 DIY RESPONSE TO SWARMING

💰 TERMITE CONTROL COST, TREATMENT & NEXT STEPS

We Provide Pest Control Services to These Cities:

We Provide Termite Control Services to These Cities:

https://flrec.ifas.ufl.edu/termites-in-florida/termite-distribution