Most homeowners only think about termites for the few weeks a year they see them flying. That's the swarm, and in South Texas it usually kicks off in spring. The trouble is, by the time you spot a swarm, a colony has often been working quietly nearby for a while. Termites don't take the winter off here the way they do up north. Our mild, humid climate keeps subterranean termites busy nearly all year, which is exactly why San Antonio sees so much termite pressure. Knowing the rhythm of their season, and the signs they leave, helps you act before the damage adds up.
Quick answer
In San Antonio, subterranean termites swarm mostly in spring through early summer, often on warm, humid days after rain. That's when you might see winged termites or discarded wings near windows. Termites stay active year-round in our climate, though, so swarm season is the alarm, not the only time to worry. Watch for mud tubes, soft or hollow wood, and shed wings, and get an inspection if you see any of them.
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When Termites Swarm in San Antonio
Subterranean termites are the main threat in the San Antonio area, and they swarm to start new colonies. Around here that swarming peaks in spring, often stretching into early summer. Warm, humid afternoons after a good rain are prime conditions. You might see a flurry of winged insects near windows, porch lights, or sliding doors, then a scatter of tiny discarded wings on the sill the next morning.
A swarm near or inside your home is a loud signal. It means a mature colony is established close enough to send out the next generation. Seeing them outdoors at a distance is more common and less alarming, but it tells you termite activity is in your area and your home is worth checking.
Why Texas Termites Don't Really Stop
Termites need moisture and they avoid cold. South Texas gives them mild winters and plenty of humidity, so subterranean colonies stay active through much of the year, feeding underground and inside wood where you can't see them. The swarm is just the visible chapter of a story that's been going on the rest of the year.
That year-round activity is the part people underestimate. A colony can eat at your floor joists, sills, and framing for months without any sign at the surface. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension notes that termites cause more property damage in the United States each year than fires and storms combined, and a lot of that damage happens silently, between the times anyone's actually looking.
The Warning Signs to Watch For
Because termites work out of sight, you're usually spotting their evidence rather than the bugs themselves. A few signs are worth a walk around your home every season.
Catch any of these and it's time for a closer look. One mud tube or a pile of wings isn't a guess; it's a colony telling on itself.
- Mud tubes: pencil-width brown tunnels running up your foundation, piers, or crawl space walls
- Discarded wings near windowsills, doors, or in spider webs after a swarm
- Wood that sounds hollow when you tap it, or paint that looks bubbled or rippled
- Floors or door frames that suddenly feel soft, sag, or stick
- Frass (termite droppings) that looks like fine sawdust or tiny pellets near wood
How to Make Your Home Less Inviting
You can't change the climate, but you can cut the conditions termites love. They follow moisture and need contact with soil or a hidden path to wood, so the goal is to keep things dry and break those paths.
None of these steps replace a professional barrier, but together they take your home off the easy-target list.
- Fix leaky faucets, AC condensation lines, and gutters that dump water against the foundation
- Keep mulch, soil, and wood debris from piling up against the siding and foundation
- Store firewood and lumber off the ground and away from the house
- Improve crawl space and yard drainage so water moves away from the slab
- Keep a few inches of clearance between wood siding or trim and the soil line
Why an Inspection Beats Guessing
Termite damage is cheap to prevent and expensive to repair. A professional inspection catches the activity you'd never notice on your own: tubes inside a crawl space, moisture problems behind walls, conducive conditions around the slab. If a colony is present, the inspector can map it and match a treatment to how your home is built.
An inspection also matters when you're buying or selling. A wood-destroying insect (WDI) report documents the home's status for the transaction and for your own records.
Treatment That Actually Holds
Subterranean termites are not a do-it-yourself fix. Effective control means treating the soil and structure to stop the active colony and keep new ones from finding a way in, which takes the right products applied where the termites travel.
Bob Jenkins Pest & Lawn Services has been doing termite work since 1987, with over 35 years of termite and pest experience across the greater San Antonio area. A thorough inspection and a proven treatment matched to your home protects what is likely your biggest investment, long after swarm season ends.