Abilene pest control expert talks about recent termites sightings

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – A topic creating a lot of buzz – the swarm of bugs seen in the air around Abilene following Tuesday morning’s storms turns out they be termites, and a local pest control business is ready to clear up the confusion.

Tanner Jones, the owner of Bug Blasters Pest Control, says the termites seen around town yesterday, June 12, aren’t the kind most people are familiar with. He identified them as desert termites, which are pretty different from the more common subterranean termites found in many parts of the United States. So, unlike subterranean termites, desert termites don’t damage wood or homes – they primarily feed on foliage.

Jones says they cause the most damage to lawns, targeting grass, weeds, and other plants. However, it is a bit unusual to see them in residential backyards, making this sighting uncommon.

“So the termites, yesterday, the conditions were favorable for them to swarm. They’re actually looking to establish new colonies, and they will swarm, fly around for a bit, and then they shed their wings, and they’ll crawl on the ground looking to get into the soil,” Jones said.

Jones says any homeowner dealing with these termites should contact a trusted local pest control company for help. He emphasizes that each situation should be handled on a case-by-case basis, and reminds residents that these are desert termites, not the subterranean kind known for damaging homes.