Termite Season on the Central Coast
Updated: 5 days ago
What to Watch For This Spring
Spring is here, and so is termite season.
Every year from September through to November, termite colonies on the Central Coast send out their reproductive swarms — winged alates that emerge in large numbers to start new colonies. If you've ever noticed a sudden cloud of "flying ants" around your home in spring, there's a good chance they weren't ants at all.
Here's what you need to know. Already have a swarm in the house? Go straight to what to do tonight if flying termites are swarming.
What are termite swarms?
When a termite colony matures, it produces winged reproductives called alates. On warm, humid evenings — usually after rain — these alates emerge in swarms from the ground, from timber, or from inside wall cavities. They fly for a short time, shed their wings, and pair up to start new colonies.
Swarms can involve hundreds or thousands of individuals. They're attracted to light, so you'll often find them around windows, doors, and light fittings.
How to tell termite alates from flying ants
This is the question we get asked most during spring. Here's the quick guide:
Termite alates | Flying ants | |
Waist | Straight, no pinch | Pinched, narrow |
Wings | All four wings the same size | Front wings larger than back |
Antennae | Straight, beaded | Bent (elbowed) |
Body colour | Pale brown to dark brown | Usually darker |
If you're unsure, take a photo and contact us. Dylan can identify from a photo in most cases.
When do swarms happen on the Central Coast?
The Central Coast's humid coastal climate makes it one of the highest-risk areas for termite activity in NSW. Swarms typically begin in September and peak through October and November — coinciding with the first warm rains after winter.
The species responsible for most structural damage in our area — Coptotermes acinaciformis — is active year-round but ramps up significantly in spring when temperatures and moisture levels rise.
What to do if you find a swarm
Don't panic — and don't spray them.
Spraying a swarm with surface insecticide does nothing to the colony. The alates you're seeing are only the reproductive caste, and the worker termites actually damaging your timber are somewhere else entirely, usually underground or inside walls.
What to do instead:
Note where they're coming from. Inside the home? From the garden? From a tree stump? Location matters.
Take a photo. A clear photo helps with identification.
Don't disturb the area. If termites are active inside your walls, disturbing them can cause them to retreat deeper before an inspection.
Book a termite inspection. This is the only way to know whether you have an active colony in your home, and where it is.
Full step-by-step: Flying termites (alates) swarming on the Central Coast? What to do tonight
Why spring is the time to act
Most termite damage is invisible until it's severe. By the time you notice hollow-sounding timber or sagging floors, the colony has often been active for years.
A spring termite inspection gives you a baseline: a written AS 3660 report covering every accessible area of your property, thermal imaging of wall cavities where traditional probing can't reach, and a clear picture of your risk level.
Inspections start from $240. Most properties take 90 minutes to two hours.
Who does the inspection?
Dylan does. Every inspection, every time. No subcontractors. He's been doing termite inspections on the Central Coast for years and knows which construction types and suburbs carry the highest risk.
If you've spotted a swarm, noticed mud tubes, or just haven't had an inspection in over 12 months, spring is the time to book.
Smash Pest Control is based on the Central Coast NSW. Dylan attends every inspection personally. Call 0447 088 762 or request a quote online.
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