Spring · Pests · Updated September 2026
Spring swarmers: is it an ant or a termite?
A burst of winged insects after spring rain is alarming. How to tell ant swarmers from termite swarmers in Austin, and what to do next.
On a warm day after spring rain, you might find dozens of winged insects around a window, then a pile of wings on the sill. These are swarmers, the winged males and females that leave a mature colony to start new ones. Both ants and termites do it.
How to tell them apart
- Antennae: termites have straight antennae; ants have elbowed ones.
- Waist: termites have a thick waist; ants have a pinched one.
- Wings: termite wings are all the same length; ant front wings are longer than the back wings.
What to do
Save a few in a bag or take a close-up photo, then vacuum the rest. Email or text the photo and we'll help identify it.
Ant swarmers mean a mature colony nearby, and we treat them with an ant program. Termite swarmers indoors usually mean an active infestation in the structure. We offer preventative termite treatment but don't treat active infestations, so we'll tell you right away and point you to a termite specialist.
