How long can it take before swarms of alates are present in a subterranean termite colony?

The timeline for the emergence of alates in a subterranean termite colony is influenced by the colony's development and maturation. Subterranean termites undergo several life stages, and it typically takes around 3 to 4 years for a colony to reach a size sufficient to produce reproductive individuals, known as alates. These alates, which are winged termites, are essential for the reproductive cycle as they leave the colony during swarming season to mate and establish new colonies.

In younger colonies, the nymphs and workers are still growing and developing, and there are not enough individuals to support the energy-intensive process of swarming. It is only once the colony has reached a certain density and resource availability that it can begin to produce alates for reproduction. Thus, 3 to 4 years is the accurate estimate for the time frame needed before swarms of alates can be expected from a subterranean termite colony.