A colony of termites is swarming a Lafayette neighborhood. Residents say they have to leave lights off because the termites are attracted to lights. They’re now finding the termites dead all over their home.

Kirk Piccione says he and his family are currently facing this issue.

“Well, apparently, termites are somewhere here in the neighborhood, and they’re swarming after dark,” Piccione said.

In a Facebook post, Piccione warned his neighbors in the Greenbriar and Brentwood neighborhoods of the infestation.

“My daughter was up for finals, studying late, and she fell asleep with a bunch of lights on upstairs, and that happened for a couple of nights in a row. The next day, we noticed they had come in. They will come in through the vents in your attic, and that’s the worker termites, and they’re looking for a new place to live,” Piccione said.

Piccione showed KATC into his kitchen where there were still dead termites.

J&J Exterminating services Piccione’s home. They say it is termite season, and they are receiving an overwhelming amount of calls.

“There isn’t very much you can do once they’re in. The swarmers die very quickly. A lot of things can kill them, like household soap and water in a spray bottle. You want to make sure they are actually coming from the outside and not coming out of your walls,” a spokesperson said.

The exterminators say it is best to make sure all moisture is away from your home and that all windows are completely closed.

“Termites don’t bite people. They don’t carry diseases. They don’t hurt you in any way shape or form. Their sole purpose is to eat and decompose wood,” the spokesperson said.

“Turn off the lights, pull down the shades, just use interior lights. Anything you can do to discourage them from seeing your house and waiting to come in,” Piccione explained.