Termite Season Survival Guide

If you are new to New Orleans, welcome. We are so glad you are here.

Also, we need to talk about the bugs.

Not the mosquitoes. Not the roaches that occasionally look like they pay rent. Not even the mysterious flying thing that somehow got into your house even though every door was closed.

We are talking about termite season.

Yes, it is a thing. Yes, people talk about it like it is a weather event. And yes, if you have never lived in South Louisiana before, your first termite swarm may have you questioning every life choice that brought you here.

But do not panic. You are not alone, and your house is not necessarily being carried away board by board. Termite season is a normal part of life in New Orleans, especially in May and June when Formosan subterranean termites tend to swarm on warm, humid evenings. LSU AgCenter recommends turning off outdoor lights at night during May and June to avoid attracting swarmers.

Around here, we jokingly call it the New Orleans Blizzard because the termites can look like snow swirling around the streetlights, but don’t confuse it with the actual once-in-a-lifetime snowstorm we had in 2025. Termite season shows up a whole lot more often than snowflakes in South Louisiana.

So, What Exactly Is Termite Season?

In New Orleans, termite season usually refers to the time of year when winged termites, also called swarmers, come out in large numbers to mate and start new colonies.

Very romantic for them.

Absolutely horrifying for the rest of us.

These little winged visitors are often attracted to light, which means they may gather around porch lights, windows, doors, lamps, and any glowing screen that makes your house look like the hottest club in town.

If you suddenly see tiny wings on your windowsill or little flying bugs around your lights at night, congratulations. You have officially experienced a South Louisiana rite of passage.

Are They Dangerous?

To people? No.

To wood? Unfortunately, yes.

The swarmers themselves are mostly a nuisance, but termites can cause serious structural damage if colonies become established. LSU AgCenter notes that killing swarmers does not protect a home from future termite activity. The best first step is usually a professional inspection and treatment plan if needed.

In other words, this is not the time to declare war with a flip-flop and a can-do attitude.

Although, emotionally, we understand.

How to Combat Termite Season Like a Local

Here are a few simple ways to make your home less inviting during swarm season:

• Turn off outdoor lights at night. Termites love lights. If your porch looks like a runway, they may accept the invitation. During May and June, try turning off exterior lights when you can.

• Close windows and doors. This sounds obvious, but New Orleans bugs are bold. They do not wait for a formal invitation. Make sure screens are in good shape, doors are sealed, and windows are closed during evening swarms.

• Keep the house cool. Here is one small comfort: termites are not big fans of the cold. During termite season, especially on warm and humid evenings, keeping your house a little cooler can help make the inside less appealing if swarmers are trying to sneak in. So yes, this is your official New Orleans permission slip to lower the thermostat and call it “pest management.”

• Check around windowsills and lamps. If you notice discarded wings, dead swarmers, or repeated activity inside the house, keep an eye on it and take photos. Those tiny wings are often the clue that swarmers have been inside.

• Reduce moisture around the house. Termites need moisture, so fix dripping outdoor faucets, check for leaks, and make sure water drains away from your home. LSU AgCenter recommends repairing leaks and sloping landscaping so water drains away from the house.

• Move wood, cardboard, and mulch away from the foundation. Cardboard boxes, wood piles, and mulch close to the house can be a termite buffet. LSU AgCenter recommends removing wood, cardboard, and other cellulose materials from around or under your home and keeping mulch 8 to 12 inches away from the foundation.

• Call a licensed pest control professional if needed. Especially if you own your home or are responsible for maintenance, do not guess. A professional can inspect the property and recommend the right prevention or treatment plan.

  
  

What If You See Termites Inside Your House?

First, take a deep breath.

Seeing flying termites inside does not automatically mean your house is falling apart. During swarm season, termites can slip inside through tiny gaps around doors, windows, vents, or lights. Sometimes they are simply attracted to indoor light and end up in the wrong place.

That said, you do not want to ignore it.

If you see termites inside your home:

• Take photos or videos. Try to capture the bugs, wings, and where you found them. This will help your landlord, property manager, housing office, or pest control company understand what is happening.

• Look for discarded wings. Termite swarmers often shed their wings near windowsills, doors, sinks, tubs, light fixtures, or baseboards.

• Try to figure out whether they are coming from inside or outside. A few that flew in from outside during swarm season may be more of a nuisance. But if you see them coming from walls, floors, ceilings, light fixtures, baseboards, or the same area repeatedly, that needs attention.

• Do not just spray and move on. Killing the ones you see may make you feel better, and honestly, fair enough. But it does not solve a possible colony issue. LSU AgCenter specifically notes that killing swarmers does not provide much protection from further termite activity and damage.

• Contact your landlord, property manager, housing office, or pest control company. If you rent, report it right away. If you own, schedule an inspection with a licensed pest control professional.

• Avoid disturbing possible mud tubes or damaged wood before inspection. If you notice mud tubes, bubbling paint, soft wood, or tiny holes, take pictures and let a professional look at it.

  
  

This about it this way, one random bug may be a “welcome to Louisiana” moment.

A group of termites showing up inside like they were invited to a family reunion? That is a reason to call someone.

The goal is not to panic. The goal is to catch it early. In New Orleans, termites are common enough that pest professionals know exactly what to look for and how to treat it.

If You Are Renting

Many military families rent when they arrive in New Orleans. If that is you, take photos or videos if you see a swarm inside, save the date and time, and notify your landlord or property manager.

Try saying something like:

Hi, I noticed what appears to be termite swarmers inside near the window/light area. I wanted to report it right away and ask if pest control can inspect the property.

You do not have to diagnose the problem yourself. Just report what you see.

And please do not feel embarrassed. Down here, saying “I think I saw termites” is not dramatic. It is responsible. It is also very New Orleans.

A Word of Encouragement for New Families

If this is your first termite season, it may feel like New Orleans is testing you.

And honestly? It kind of is.

This city comes with incredible food, beautiful culture, deep history, festivals, music, Mardi Gras magic, and some bugs that seem personally committed to character development.

But you will learn the rhythm of it. You will learn to turn off the porch light. You will learn which bugs are “normal” and which ones deserve a call. You will learn that everyone here has a termite story, a mosquito story, and probably a palmetto bug story they are still emotionally recovering from.

Welcome to New Orleans.

We are glad you are here.

Keep your windows closed, your porch lights off, your house cool, and your sense of humor nearby. Around here, all four will come in handy.