Are Flying Termites Dangerous?

Have you heard about flying termites? Of course you have heard about them. They are wooden house owners’ nightmare. But Are flying termites dangerous to humans and pets? Let’s find out the answers here.

Flying termites are not dangerous animals. However, you should never let them make a colony where you live. Although they are not dangerous they can bite you. However, they are not harmful for you or the pets. All they can do is inflict a tiny red bump which will give you a small pain. Furthermore, you will suffer from itching for some days. However, that will also be rare. Whenever you suffer from a termite bite, it will show only a few signs.

In case if there are more extreme symptoms, chances are that you would have been bitten by another insect type.

Before proceeding further, to explain what flying termites are, they are in fact the reproductive termites called swarmers.

They will get into your house through wood to soil contact. That literally means they can enter through deck posts, door frames and porch steps. Additionally, they can also enter through cracks in bricks as well. Flying termites’ looks would different depending on the species. They would be ¼ inch – 3/8 inch in size. They tend to take a light color. Besides, they have 2 pairs of wings which are the same size.

Flying termites’ life expectancy is very limited. They would last only for a few minutes once they leave the nests. They would fly a short distance and fall on the ground.

After that they will shed their wings. Usually most of the swarmer’s perish within a short period like in a day. Flying termites usually fulfill their food requirements by consuming wood and anything which contains cellulose. For example, they prefer to eat books, wallpapers, carpet backing, board and furniture etc.

What is a flying termite?

Flying termites are responsible for the reproduction of the members of the termite colonies. They must seek mates then lay eggs to start colonies. They are not directly dangerous. However, they will be the root cause for any other termite infestation.

Having said that, not all termites can fly. There are in fact three types of termites which you can find in a termite colony. They are workers, reproducers and alates. Workers are the flying termites.

Chances are that the Flying termites can lose their wings when they engage in mating or aging out of reproductive capacity.

Hence if you spot any discarded wings around the windowsill or at door frames, it could be a sign of a Flying termite’s presence. In terms of their appearances, they would be three eighths of an inch in length as aforesaid. Sometimes they can be smaller than that.

They would further consist of four wings which could be in the same size. Besides, flying termites consist of short straight antennas on their head. Flying termites have thorax and abdomen which are same in size. That gives a thick waisted appearance.

Can flying termite bite?

Flying termites bite or sting very rarely. They will not directly harm humans.

Further there is no proof to state that they may spread disease to humans when humans come in contact with the Flying termites. Literally Flying termites would be completely harmless to you.

However they could create a greater impact on your furniture and house. They can literally create massive destruction to your wooden structures.

Are flying termites dangerous to humans

As aforesaid, flying termites may bite humans very rarely. If there is any Flying termite’s infestation present in your home, they will not tend to look for humans and bite them. They will not harm other creatures and feed on their blood. Instead, they would feed on wood and on material which is made of plant matter.

In case if there are any termite bites, it could most probably be the soldier termites. However, that will also be very rare. Soldier termites have stronger mouth parts.

Are flying termites dangerous to cats and dog?

Termite bites can create a very low risk for the cats and dogs. However, as aforesaid they would be more destructive towards the wooden structures. Flying termites do not depend on creatures like cats and dogs as they do not depend on their blood.

Why do flying termites die?

Flying termites perish mainly if they cannot leave their houses. In the general context, Flying termites do not live for too long once they take off the flight. They are usually the very few types of termites which usually live in the nests. Once they take off, they will not survive more than one hour.

Next, their wings will fall off and will land on the ground. After that they will die to other termites eating critters. Having said that, not all flying termites will perish within 24 hours.

Are flying termites edible

You can eat flying termites if you are willing to. Besides flying termites, you can also eat flying alates, queen termites , and reproductive soldier termites.

Many people in the undeveloped regions of the world tend to consume them. Further many people use the fried flying termites for various dishes such as Uma leaves, moi moi etc.

You can further steam the termites, roast them and boil them and consume them.

Finally

Before concluding to sum up on things we covered in this article it is very unlikely that a flying termite can bite you. They will instead prefer to feed on wooden structures and live in a dark atmosphere.