If your porch light suddenly looks like a tiny flying insect convention, welcome to Formosan termite season in New Orleans.
Formosan termite swarmers have surged back into the city this week, crowding around porches, streetlamps and, in some unlucky cases, the insides of homes. From the French Quarter to Uptown, residents have been posting photos and videos of clouds of small, yellowish swarmers clustering around bright lights and piling up on window sills. Entomologists say spotting a few of these winged termites in May is totally normal, but big indoor swarms or other warning signs can point to established colonies that call for professional help.
The city’s official monitoring tool, the Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board's public "swarm-o-meter," has been logging unusually high activity this week, with calls to 311 and to the board climbing as homeowners report insects inside, according to NOLA.com.
Why They Are Swarming Now
Formosan termite swarmers typically take flight from April through July, with activity peaking in early to mid May, according to the LSU AgCenter. They prefer warm, humid evenings with little wind, which New Orleans has in abundance this time of year. The winged adults, or alates, fly at dusk, shed their wings after a short flight and flock to bright lights, which explains those dramatic clouds around streetlamps and lit windows.
The species, Coptotermes formosanus, arrived from East Asia after World War II and has found New Orleans' dense, damp urban environment especially hospitable.
Nuisance Or Infestation?
A few stray swarmers in a bathtub or on a windowsill are usually more of a gross-out moment than a crisis. The bigger concerns are mud tubes on foundation walls, piles of discarded wings or heavy indoor swarms. Local reporting that interviewed experts said mud tunnels and intense indoor swarms are the clearest clues that a home may be infested and needs a professional inspection, and homeowners are urged to look for moisture problems and wood stacked against the house, per WDSU.
Simple Steps To Protect Your Home
Basic housekeeping outside can go a long way. During swarm season, residents are advised to turn off outdoor lights when possible, move firewood and cardboard away from the house, fix leaky outdoor faucets and pull soil and mulch back from foundation walls.
The LSU AgCenter recommends keeping mulch 8 to 12 inches from the foundation and having a licensed pest professional inspect any suspected activity. City guidance highlighted in reporting also urges residents to keep plants at least 12 inches from the structure so they do not create a bridge over treated soil, according to NOLA.com. If you think you are dealing with termites, collect a sample or snap clear photos for identification before you clean up.
When To Call For Help
If you see mud tubes, a steady buildup of wings or dozens of swarmers buzzing inside, that is the point to stop experimenting with foggers and bring in the pros. The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board lists 311 as the main line for reporting pest issues and provides email and phone contacts residents can use to request service.
Licensed pest management professionals can determine whether swarmers are merely passing through or tied to an active colony and can suggest options such as in ground bait stations or targeted soil treatments instead of short term sprays, local experts told WDSU. Keeping yards as dry as possible and free of wood debris remains the cheapest long term strategy to avoid expensive structural damage.
