When do termites swarm on Long Island?
February through June, usually on a warm, humid day after rain. Swarmers indoors mean the colony is in or under the house.
Eastern Subterranean Termite (Reticulitermes flavipes)
Reviewed by William "Willy" Vizcarrondo, NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator (C1825832). Updated September 23, 2026.
Quick facts
The eastern subterranean termite is the only termite that matters on Long Island. It lives in the soil, builds mud tubes up foundations to reach the wood, and eats it from the inside, usually in homes that are 10 years old or more.
| Size | Workers about 1/4 inch, creamy white; swarmers 3/8 to 1/2 inch, dark brown to black with wings |
|---|---|
| Color | Workers white, soldiers white with yellowish heads, swarmers dark |
| Look-alikes | Flying ants (pinched waist, bent antennae, unequal wings), carpenter ant swarmers |
| Where you'll find it | Mud tubes on foundation walls, sill plates, basement framing, porch posts, wood touching soil |
| Active on Long Island | Year round in the soil; swarms February through June |
| Danger level | Structural damage, usually hidden until advanced |
Long Island season
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Swarmers emerge on Long Island from late winter through spring, most often on a warm day after rain, and a swarm indoors means the colony has been feeding on the house for years.
How to identify it
You'll almost never see the workers; they stay inside the wood and the mud tubes. What homeowners see are swarmers: dark, 3/8 to 1/2 inch, with two pairs of translucent wings of equal length nearly twice the body length, which break off after the swarm and pile up on windowsills (Penn State).
Flying ants have a narrow waist, elbowed antennae, and front wings longer than the back. Termites have a broad waist and straight antennae. The other giveaway is the mud tube: a pencil-width tunnel of dried mud running up the foundation wall or a post.
Signs you have them
- Mud tubes on the foundation, piers, or basement walls
- Swarmers or shed wings indoors, usually near windows, in spring
- Wood that sounds hollow or crushes easily
- Blistered or sagging paint on trim
- Earth-like material packed in wood galleries
Why it matters
Subterranean termites feed on the framing, sills, and joists that hold the house up, and they do it out of sight. Penn State notes termite problems typically show up 10 years or more after construction, which puts almost every house on Long Island in the window.
Winged swarmers appearing means the colony has already been present for a few years (Cornell IPM). Termite damage is also excluded from most homeowners insurance, so finding it early is the only cheap option.
Can I handle it myself?
No. The two effective treatments, a liquid termiticide barrier trenched and injected around the foundation, and in-ground bait stations that carry a slow-acting toxicant back to the colony, both require professional products and equipment (Penn State, Cornell IPM).
What you can do is remove wood-to-soil contact, fix grading and leaks that keep the foundation wet, keep mulch and firewood away from the house, and get an inspection when you see tubes or swarmers.
How Bobby Bugs treats it
A free inspection to find the tubes, the entry points, and how far the damage goes, then either a spot treatment or a full perimeter treatment. Partial treatment carries a 1-year written guarantee; full treatment carries a 2-year written guarantee.
More on termite treatment on Long Island and termite inspection.
Related answers
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell a termite swarmer from a flying ant?
Termites have a thick waist, straight antennae, and four equal-length wings much longer than the body. Ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae, and shorter, unequal wings.
Do I need a termite inspection to sell my house on Long Island?
Most buyers and lenders ask for one, and it's standard in Nassau and Suffolk sales. An inspection finds tubes and damage before they show up on the buyer's report.
Does homeowners insurance cover termite damage?
Almost never. Insurers treat it as preventable maintenance, which is why an inspection when you see tubes or swarmers is the cheap option.
Sources
Think you have termites? Call (516) 509-6001 for a free written quote.