Are Termites Active in Winter? What Oklahoma Homeowners Should Know

Yes, termites are active in winter. They don't hibernate. When the weather turns cold, subterranean termites move deeper into the soil and forage less near the surface, but the colony keeps feeding. Termites already in a heated house can keep working through the winter with little change. Oklahoma winters slow termites down; they don't kill colonies. Here is what termites do in the cold, what to look for, and whether to treat in winter.

What termites do when it gets cold

Termites are cold-blooded, so soil temperature controls how active they are. An article in PCT magazine by a University of Kentucky extension entomologist puts their comfortable range at roughly 75°F to 95°F, and notes that termites at the surface can die within minutes in extreme heat or cold. They avoid it by moving. In late fall, subterranean termites retreat from the surface soil to deeper, milder soil. Eastern subterranean termites, Oklahoma's most common species, have been recorded moving more than 40 inches down in winter.

That means termites may abandon wood near the surface that is exposed to the cold, like a fence post or a woodpile, and forage less overall. They don't stop eating, and the colony doesn't die off.

Termites in heated homes

The exception is a house. Soil under a slab, next to a heated crawl space or along a warm foundation stays milder than open ground, and wood inside heated walls stays warm all winter. The PCT article notes that field experience and acoustic detection studies in northern and midwestern states have found subterranean termites staying active through winter in centrally heated buildings. A colony already feeding in your walls in November is likely still feeding in January.

Can cold weather kill termites?

A hard freeze can kill termites caught near the surface, but not a colony. The colony is underground, below the freeze, and the PCT article notes that termites that appear frozen often recover once they warm up. UF/IFAS entomologists note that the eastern subterranean termite ranges as far north as Ontario, Canada, so an Oklahoma winter is no obstacle. OSU Extension says termites are found in every Oklahoma county.

Do termites swarm in fall or winter?

Rarely in winter. OSU Extension says swarms in Oklahoma mainly happen in March, April and May, and sometimes in September or October, though fall swarms are less consistent. Swarming takes warmth and moisture, so swarmers stay in the colony through the cold months and fly once spring conditions arrive. If you do see winged termites indoors in winter, the colony is very likely feeding inside the heated house. See what to do about termite swarmers.

Signs of termites to look for in winter

Without swarms, winter signs are quieter:

• Mud tubes on foundation walls, piers, plumbing and the inside of the crawl space.
• Damaged wood that sounds dull or lets a screwdriver sink in, especially baseboards, door frames and wood near plumbing.
• Blistered paint or rippled wall coverings where termites have hollowed out the wood underneath.
• Mud in cracks in drywall, flooring or concrete.

Winter is also a good time to clean up the outside of the house: move firewood away from the walls, pull mulch back from the siding, clear gutters, and fix the leaks and drainage problems that keep soil wet. Our signs of termite damage guide covers each sign in detail.

Should termite treatments continue in winter?

Yes. A colony doesn't take the winter off, so neither should protection. If you find termites in December, there is no reason to wait until spring to treat them; termites damage wood slowly, but the damage keeps adding up. A few winter considerations:

• Bait stations may take longer to be found. The University of Kentucky notes that termites find bait stations less often in late fall and winter, and when the ground is frozen or saturated. Stations installed in winter keep working when foraging picks up in spring.
• Active indoor infestations can be treated where termites are feeding, with above-ground bait stations or a targeted liquid or foam treatment, so you are not waiting on outdoor foraging.
• Existing bait programs keep going. Stations stay in the ground year-round so new activity shows up when termites return to the surface.

See how the Sentricon system works for more on baiting, and where bugs go in winter for other pests.

Is termite control necessary in the fall?

Fall is a good time for an inspection. Termites are still foraging near the surface while the soil is warm, fall swarms sometimes happen, and you can deal with anything found before winter hides the signs. If you are buying a home in the fall or winter, a termite inspection is just as important as in spring. See what we check in a termite inspection.

Year-round termite exterminator in Oklahoma

Emtec Pest Control has protected Oklahoma homes from termites since 1979, in every season. Whether you find mud tubes in January or swarmers in April, a technician will inspect the house, confirm whether termites are active and recommend a plan, including the Sentricon® System Emtec has long recommended. We are the termite exterminator for Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Jenks, Bixby, Sand Springs, Sapulpa, Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Edmond and nearby towns. See our termite control service or contact us.