Termites do one thing very well. They eat wood. With wood as their main food source, termites can cause extensive structural damage to homes. In fact, termites cause more than $2 billion in structural damage and pest control expenses for homeowners and landlords in the U.S. every year.
While subterranean termites typically travel underground, they are known to fly during swarming season when searching for a mate and starting a new colony. Once they settle back on the ground, however, they lose their wings.