Alates, often called “swarmers,” are the winged reproductive members of social insect colonies, primarily termites and ants, that emerge to mate and establish new colonies. While the insects themselves pose virtually no direct threat to human health, their sudden appearance is a significant red flag. The true danger of finding alates is not the individual insect but the established, mature colony they represent, which may be actively causing damage to a nearby structure. The sighting of these winged forms is a warning sign that requires immediate investigation to determine the source of the infestation.
Defining the Swarmers (Alates)
Alates are the future kings and queens of their species, serving as the dispersal mechanism for a mature colony. These individuals are produced only when a colony has grown large enough—sometimes taking several years—to ensure its continuation through propagation. The insects emerge during a coordinated event known as a nuptial flight or swarm, which is often triggered by specific environmental cues like warm temperatures and high humidity, frequently following a rainstorm.
The sole purpose of the flight is to pair up, mate, and find a suitable location to begin a new colony. Once a male and female have paired, they drop to the ground and intentionally shed their wings, a distinctive sign that the reproductive process is underway. These now wingless insects seek out a secluded spot to become the new king and queen, and will likely die if they fail to find a place with the necessary moisture and shelter.
Assessing Direct Human Danger
The direct risk alates pose to people and pets is minimal because they are completely focused on reproduction during their brief flight period. Termite alates, in particular, do not bite, sting, or transmit diseases, as their mandibles are not designed for defense. They are not aggressive and their sole concern is finding a mate and a nesting site.
Flying ants, which are also alates, are similarly non-aggressive, but the females of some species do possess a stinger or powerful mandibles. They would only attempt to bite or sting if they are physically captured or feel directly threatened. The minimal risk to human health is typically limited to a mild, localized skin irritation from a defensive bite or sting, and in rare cases, a more severe reaction if a person is allergic to the specific ant venom.
Property Damage Indication
The true threat posed by alates is indirect, signaling the presence of an active, established colony that is likely damaging a structure. A swarm emerging from or near a building indicates that a mature insect colony has been flourishing nearby for a significant amount of time, sometimes years, to reach the size necessary to produce reproductives. The damage is not caused by the flying alates themselves, but by the worker caste of the parent colony.
If the alates are termites, the colony is actively consuming the structure’s wooden components for cellulose, which can lead to significant and expensive structural damage if left untreated. If the alates are carpenter ants, the colony does not eat the wood but instead excavates clean, smooth tunnels inside it to create nesting galleries. While carpenter ant damage generally progresses slower than termite damage, both infestations compromise the structural integrity of the wood they inhabit, making the swarm a call to action for the homeowner.
Identification: Termite Alates versus Ant Alates
Distinguishing between termite alates and ant alates is important because the identification informs the severity and type of potential property damage. Termite alates have two pairs of wings that are equal in length and often extend well past the tip of the abdomen. Their body has a broad, uniform waist with no distinct narrowing between the thorax and abdomen, and their antennae appear straight or beaded.
Ant alates possess a distinct, pinched waist, giving them a noticeable “hourglass” shape, and their antennae are elbowed or bent. A major distinguishing feature is their wings; flying ants have two pairs of wings, but the front pair is noticeably longer than the hind pair, giving them an unequal length. Observing these physical differences is the quickest way for a homeowner to assess the nature of the structural threat.