First Rule of Panic: Do NOT grab the can of Raid. Spraying swarming termites does not kill the colony; it just forces them to move to a different part of your wall, making the professional treatment harder.

It is a Houston homeowner's nightmare. You walk into your living room and find hundreds of black flying insects crawling on your window or thousands of discarded wings on the floor. This is a Termite Swarm.

A swarm does not mean your house is falling down today. It means a mature colony is nearby (or under you) and is sending out kings and queens to start new families. While it looks terrifying, you have time to make a smart decision.

1. Immediate Steps: What To Do RIGHT NOW

  1. Grab the Vacuum: Use a shop vac or regular vacuum to suck up the flying insects. This is the fastest way to clear the air. Empty the canister into an outdoor trash bin immediately.
  2. Save a Sample: Catch 2-3 insects in a Ziploc bag or a jar. This is critical. We need to identify if they are Native Subterranean, Formosan, or Drywood termites, as the treatments are completely different.
  3. Inspect the Source: Try to see where they are emerging from. Is it a baseboard? A ceiling light fixture? A crack in the slab? Mark this spot with blue tape.
  4. Call a Professional: Do not wait. Swarming seasons are short, and scheduling fills up fast.

STOP! Do Not Do This:

  • Do NOT spray bug spray into the wall. It contaminates the area for our non-repellent treatments.
  • Do NOT seal the exit hole with caulk or tape. They will just chew a new hole through your drywall a few feet away. Let them exit so we know where they are.
  • Do NOT rip open the wall yourself. You might disturb structural integrity or hit electrical wires.

2. Day vs. Night: Identifying the Threat

In Houston, the time of day matters.

  • Daytime Swarm (Morning/Afternoon): Usually Native Subterranean Termites. They nest in the soil and build mud tubes up. Treatment involves trenching and liquid Termidor.
  • Nighttime Swarm (Dusk/Evening): Usually Formosan Termites. These are the "Super Termites." They are aggressive and can build carton nests inside wall voids without soil contact. This is a higher-level emergency.

3. Is "Emergency Spot Treatment" a Real Thing?

Yes and No.

We can perform a spot treatment to stop the immediate activity in that one wall. We drill into the wall void and inject a foam termiticide that expands and kills the swarmers and workers in that specific area.

However: A spot treatment is a band-aid. It does not protect the rest of your home. If termites found one entry point, they will find another. We always recommend a full perimeter treatment (Liquid Barrier or Bait Stations) to guarantee the colony is eliminated, but we can do a spot treat to buy you peace of mind for a few weeks while you budget for the full job.

4. The Cost of Waiting

A swarm event lasts only about 30-45 minutes. Once they drop their wings, they disappear into crevices to mate. Just because the flying stops doesn't mean they are gone. It means they have moved to Phase 2: Reproduction.

Ignoring a swarm is the most expensive decision you can make. Subterranean termites eat 24/7/365.

Need an Emergency Inspection?

We prioritize active swarms. Call now to get a technician out ASAP.

(713) 571-2944