Termites will be most visible between the months of March and November. Typically, these pests are active during the night hours, but that varies based on species.
What To Know About Termite Activity
Understanding termite activity patterns is important. These pests often remain hidden in wood or other structures within a home, displaying almost no visible sign of their presence… until it’s too late. Properly identifying termite activity can prevent extensive damage to your home.
Timely identification and intervention can ultimately prevent these pests from starting a colony in your home and causing damage.
Do Termites Come Out During The Day Or Night?
While termites do come out at night, this behavioral pattern is not universal for all termite species. Most species are predominantly nocturnal, but others like drywood termites, are active during both the day and night. This is due to the fact that drywood termites live within wood, so they are less exposed to the outdoor environment.
Swarming Formosan termites are typically active during the spring and summer months, especially at night. The most common species is the Subterranean termite. They are active at night and during the early morning hours. They have a sensitivity to light, meaning the night is best for them to forage for food.
When Are Termites The Most Active?
Termite activity will vary based on times of the day and weather conditions. Here are a few factors below that will influence their activity throughout the day.
Humidity
Since they are highly susceptible to desiccation (drying out), termites need a moist environment to survive and thrive. Termites are most active in warm and humid environments, which is ideal for them to maintain their necessary moisture levels.
Even slight changes to the humidity levels will impact their activity and behavior. When humidity levels in both the air and soil drop, they will become much less active. Spring to fall is the most active period for the majority of these pests.
Temperature
The body temperature of a termite will depend on the temperature of the surrounding environment. During the warmer months, termites will be most active during the cooler times of the day in the morning and evening.
Termites are most active between the temperatures of 70°F and 90°F. Termites tend to reduce their activity levels when it is either cold or hot. They are usually inactive at night when the outdoor temperature falls below 60°F.
Lighting
Typically, termites prefer darkness. They tend to avoid sunlight because too much exposure can ultimately dry their bodies out, making them vulnerable to predators.
This is why termites like to hide within structures of a home. They use wood as a protective boundary from both predators and the elements.
Species Variations
Different species will have different patterns of activity, so expect some variance when it comes to behavior.
Do Termites Sleep At Night?
Termites do not experience sleep cycles the same way humans do. These pests are known to have a continuous, round-the-clock activity cycle. Essentially, this means individual termites will take turns performing various duties within the colony during all hours of the day and night.
These duties include feeding, grooming, foraging, and caring for both the young and queen. Termite activity levels will depend on the needs of the colony and environmental conditions. Things like heat and humidity will undoubtedly increase the likelihood of nighttime activity for termites.
Termite Control Phoenix Metro Area
Poor Boy Termite Control can solve all of you termite issues. We only deal with termites as the name implies. We use thermal imaging, with no drilling or guessing. At Poor Boy Termite Control we detect termites and treat them. If you have a termite infestation, Call Poor Boy Termite Control at (480) 994-4240 and schedule an appointment before the problem gets worse!
