Those flying insects after the rain? That's the announcement
Every year around the first heavy rains, Bangkok's termite colonies release winged swarmers. Most people sweep up the wings the next morning and forget about it. Here's what that swarm actually means: a mature colony is operating nearby — and mature colonies send out settlers.
The signs worth taking seriously
Discarded wings
Piles of identical translucent wings near windows, doors or lights mean swarmers landed and shed. If you find them inside your home, treat it as urgent — a pair may have started a colony within your walls.
Mud tubes
Pencil-width tunnels of dried mud running up foundations, walls, or pipe risers are termite highways. They build them to stay moist while commuting between soil and wood. Ground-floor units, townhouses and houses should check foundation lines twice a year.
Wood that sounds wrong
Tap skirting boards, door frames and built-in wardrobes. Healthy wood knocks; eaten wood sounds papery and hollow. Termites eat from the inside out, leaving a paint-thin shell — by the time the surface breaks, the damage is deep.
Doors and windows that suddenly stick
Termite activity releases moisture that warps frames. A door that fit fine last month and binds today — with no rainy-season swelling elsewhere — deserves an inspection.
What NOT to do
- Don't spray the swarmers. They're the visible 1%. Killing them does nothing to the colony and can push activity deeper into the structure.
- Don't break open mud tubes "to check". You'll confirm termites, and also warn the colony — they'll reroute somewhere you can't see.
- Don't accept a quote without readings. A legitimate inspection measures moisture and activity and puts findings in writing before pricing treatment.
Inspection first, always
Termite treatment is the one pest service where the diagnosis matters more than the spray. Soil barrier and baiting systems solve different situations, and the right answer depends on your building's construction, the colony's location, and access.
A licensed termite inspection with written findings costs ฿990 — roughly 0.2% of a typical structural repair bill. If you're on a PestsRova year package, the annual inspection is free.
Frequently asked questions
When is termite season in Bangkok?
Termite swarming season in Bangkok begins with the first heavy rains of the monsoon, usually around May, with further flights after big storms through the wet season. The swarm itself is only the visible announcement; colonies feed year-round, so the warning signs worth checking are wings indoors, mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood and frames that suddenly stick.
Are flying termites after rain a sign of termites in my house?
Flying termites after rain mean a mature colony is operating nearby, not necessarily inside your home. A swarm on the balcony or around a streetlight is worth an inspection in a ground-floor unit, townhouse or house. Wings or swarmers found inside a closed room or wardrobe suggest the swarm emerged from within the building, which needs a licensed inspection within a week or two.
Should I spray flying termites or break open mud tubes?
No to both. Swarmers are the visible 1 percent, so spraying them does nothing to the colony and can push activity deeper into the structure. Breaking a mud tube confirms termites but warns the colony, which reroutes somewhere you cannot see. Leave the evidence intact, photograph it, and book a licensed inspection that measures moisture and activity before any treatment is priced.
How much does a termite inspection cost in Bangkok?
A licensed termite inspection from PestsRova costs ฿990 and is free with any year package. It includes moisture and activity readings, photographed findings and a written fixed-price proposal if treatment is needed. That is roughly 0.2 percent of a typical structural repair bill, and full termite programs typically run ฿5,000–15,000 depending on the building and method.
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Written by the PestsRova Team
We're Bangkok's documented pest control crew — everything we write comes from real treatment visits across homes, condos and short-stay rentals.
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