WHAT ARE THEY?
Alate means having wings or winglike extensions
However, in entomological terms, alate is a term that's usually used to refer to the winged reproductives of ants, termites and sometimes aphids. The common ones are those you see
swarming under street lights or even the lights in your own home are flying termitesDescription: Generally harmless. They don’t bite, or chew wood because during this stage of their life, they’re swarming to mate and form new colonies. This is the only time you’ll see termites flying. After the deed is done, their wings drop, the males die, and the females burrow in mud or warm and damp areas to lay eggs. They are commonly seen during hot and humid seasons, especially just after it rains.
Extremely attracted to light, they swarm under streetlights and your home’s fluorescent lights.
Swarming
Some species of termites swarm late in the afternoon and early evening. Like most nocturnal insects, the pests will be drawn to light sources around the home, such as porch lamps, motion lights, and light reflected from inside. It is common to see swarms of alates around utility lights, as well.
When do flying termites come out?
Flying termites attracted to light. We’ve all seen this very often in everyday life – after a rain shower, we found that a group flying insect start to swarm closer to sources of light like street lamps or your home’s fluorescent lights.
After a couple of minutes, this group of flying insects have discarded their wings and start to crawl without their wings around on the floor for an unspecified time before they eventually die.
Raw shots
Edited shot with effects
Video of alates hovering around a fluorescent bulb
Video of alates hovering around a fluorescent bulb in slow-mo
