We will attempt to answer some of the most common questions here, but please bear in mind that with the great insect diversity that abounds, there are too many questions about insects to be answered here.

Are these winged insects termites? 

Homeowners are oftern confused  when winged insects suddenly appear in their homes, often hundreds or thousands of insects may appear within a few hours.  In southwestern Pennsylvania, the two insects often associated with this swarming behavior are ants and termites.  Typically, termites swarmers appear around the beginning of May,  often coinciding with Mother's Day.   Termites swarmers, properly called alates, are the reproductive form ot the termite insect.  They differ from ants in three anatomical ways:  clubbed antenae, two main body segments, and wings greater than the body length.  The termites are very small, the wings make them appear larger.

   termite alate                        worker termites