SAN ANTONIO – Following the recent storms in Bexar County, residents might notice large groups of flying insects — but what are these creatures?
A TheTXLoop Connect user shared a video of flying insects on Thursday following San Antonio’s record-breaking rainfall.
The video appears to show a “ton” of little flying insects in their backyard.
High humidity creates favorable conditions for insects to thrive while also attracting them to sources of water.
When San Antonio receives multiple inches of rain and has lingering humidity and moisture in the air, it can lead to an increase in the bug population.
Molly Keck, an entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Bexar County, previously told TheTXLoop the insects are desert termites.
There’s no need to worry; desert termites, also known as agricultural termites, are not the kind of insects that eat up your home.
“They do not cause damage to plants or structures. They feed on dead and stressed forbes, grasses, and roots,” Keck said. “Sometimes cause some damage to turf, but usually because the grass isn’t well watered and the roots are too short as a result of shallow watering.”
Desert termites are native to the San Antonio area, and many can be seen due to a combination of the right weather conditions and the insects’ biology.
Keck said desert termites will typically decide to swarm in large numbers.
The reproductive forms of desert termites fly out of their colonies to mate in the spring and summer months when it’s hot and very humid.
The winged versions are called swarmers or alates. They leave the colony to find locations for new colonies.
They may not cause any damage, but large swarms can leave behind a mess of discarded wings.
If you have desert termites, there’s no need to call a pest control service.
According to the AgriLife Extension website, desert termites play a crucial role in ecosystems by regulating carbon and nitrogen flow.
The insects process up to half of the dead roots and litter in grass lands, the website states.
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