Worker termites are the smallest and palest version of the three termite castes. Smaller than reproductives, they are pale brown and have a powerful pair of pincers for defending their nest from ants and other potential threats. Soldier termites are the defenders of the colony. These types of termites are actually quite distinct in appearance from reproductive termites. Worker and soldier termites, pictured above, do not have wings. These wing piles are often found on windowsills, near exterior doors and in other places located near a light source, since reproductive termites leave their dark colonies and head for the light. This is why piles of tiny wings are another common sign of a termite infestation. ![]() These reproductives shed them once they’ve left their colony of origin and found a new mate and location to reproduce. Swarmer termites don’t keep their wings forever. Their wings are long, often about twice the length of their bodies, which can make swarmers appear to be even longer than they really are. They have two pairs of wings, mounted closely together just below the head at the top of the thorax, that are even in length. These termites, as pictured above, are dark-brown or black in color and measure about a quarter-inch to a half-inch long. When swarmers leave the colony, they head toward the first light they see, which is why people often spot these insects around windows, doors and light fixtures. Also called alate nymphs, reproductive termites are the termites that swarm out of the colony during swarming season (typically spring or summer, and often after a warm rain) in order to form new colonies and reproduce. There are three different types of termites within a colony, collectively referred to as castes, and only one of the castes-the reproductives-have wings. This is why it’s important to know how to identify termites, especially since not all termites have wings. These insects are silent destroyers: They work quietly, in the darkness of interior walls and crawl spaces, tunneling into wood and consuming its cellulose-the organic compound within wood that gives it strength, stiffness and form-until its internal structure is weakened to the point of needing extensive repair or complete replacement. Subterranean termites, which are the most common type of termite in the United States, cause billions of dollars’ worth of damage every year to American homes and other structures. Concern over termites is certainly not unfounded. Wanting to know how to identify termites and distinguish them from other insects, with or without wings, is understandable. There are also certain signs and characteristics that homeowners can learn to look out for in order to make an initial diagnosis on their own. A professional exterminator can determine exactly what type of insect is swarming in or around your home, whether it’s a termite, a winged ant or something else altogether. Furthermore, there are other winged insects, such as winged ants, that are commonly and easily mistaken for termites. Not all termites have wings, however, and even those that do have wings don’t keep them forever. ![]() ![]() If you have spotted a swarm of small insects flying or crawling inside your home or elsewhere on your property, you might have instantly feared a pest infestation-and then asked yourself, “Do termites have wings?” The short answer here is yes: Certain types of termites in certain stages of their life cycle do have wings.
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