BILOXI, Mississippi (AP) – Thick schools of termites appear across southern Mississippi each night, signaling that their mating season is underway.
The winged insects – often referred to as hawkers – are likely Formosa termites, The Sun Herald reported.
According to the Mississippi State University Extension Service, the species arrived in Mississippi in the mid-1980s.
Formosa termites are also found in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas, according to the Louisiana State University College of Agriculture.
The Formosans swarm at dusk and are strongly attracted to light.
Experts say that swarming around a house doesn’t necessarily mean that the house is infested with termites, but it should be a reminder to get the house inspected.
