If it has a reddish color head and brown body with long wings then, you just saw a swarming drywood termite trying to establish a new colony. They are like teenagers leaving home for the first time, but don’t return like ours. While we can all try to protect our homes against ants, roaches, spiders earwigs, etc. — on the ground it is the flying bugs that we are not able to stop from flying into or around our homes — such as bees, wasps or even flying ants. Yes, there really is a flying ant (a drone), but more destructive is the termite. Drywood termites do not need any contact with the ground to start a colony in or around your home, just a crack in the eaves, stucco or even the attic vents allowing access into your home. How do we stop them? Unless you are you willing to put forth the effort to seal every crack and hole around the structure and put smaller screening at the vents, it is very hard to stop them from entering. Having an inspection yearly from a professional and knowing what to look out for will help cut down the possibilities of an infestation from drywood termites. This may help to prevent a fumigation (tenting) of your home or at least prolong the process. Treatments range from local treatment (organic and non-organic), thermal (green), foaming of walls and fumigation of the structure. La Jolla Termite and Pest Control will give home owners a free pest inspection just by calling (858) 454-4315. — Mike Lawson is president/CEO of La Jolla Termite and Pest Control, Inc.