Every spring, we get a surge of calls from Phoenix homeowners who’ve seen flying insects swarm around their windows or outdoor lights. Most of them are already convinced they have termites. Some of them are right. Here’s how to tell — and what actually matters.
When Does Termite Season Happen in Arizona?
Arizona has two distinct termite swarm periods. Subterranean termites (the most destructive species) typically swarm in spring, usually March through May, often triggered by warm temperatures after rain. Desert damp wood termites can swarm in late summer after monsoon season.
The swarming itself isn’t the problem — swarmers are reproductive termites leaving to start new colonies, and most of them don’t survive. The problem is what swarms tell you: an active, mature colony is already nearby. Colonies typically don’t produce swarmers until they’re 3–5 years old, which means a swarm event is often evidence of an established infestation, not a new one.
How to Tell Termites from Ants
Flying ants and termite swarmers look similar and are often confused. The key differences: termites have a straight body (no waist), equal-length wings (both pairs the same size), and straight antennae. Flying ants have a pinched waist, unequal wings (front pair larger than rear), and bent antennae. Discarded wings are also a reliable indicator — termites shed their wings quickly after landing, and a pile of equal-length wings near a window sill is a strong termite signal.
What to Actually Look For
Swarmers are visible but not the most important thing to look for. Mud tubes are. Subterranean termites build mud tubes — pencil-width tunnels made of soil and saliva — to travel from the soil to the wood they’re feeding on. These appear on foundation walls, interior baseboards near slab edges, and on the outside of plumbing penetrations.
Hollow-sounding wood is another sign. Tap on baseboards, door frames, and window sills — if they sound hollow, probe with a screwdriver. Termite-damaged wood often breaks through with very light pressure and reveals a honeycomb-like gallery pattern inside.
What to Do If You Find Signs
Do not treat it yourself. Consumer termite products (foam, borate sprays) can scatter a subterranean colony without eliminating it, making the actual infestation harder to locate and treat effectively. More importantly, without a professional inspection, you won’t know the full extent of the damage — and structural decisions (whether to call a contractor) should happen after you know what you’re dealing with.
Call a licensed inspector. In Arizona, termite inspectors need a specific Wood-Destroying Organism (WDO) certification from the Arizona Department of Agriculture. Ask for the inspector’s license number when you call. We provide it proactively because we think you should ask.
Free inspections are available from Shield through the end of July — call or submit a request online and we’ll schedule within 24 hours in most cases.
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