What Is Swarm Form?

Swarm Form is digital reporting software built for Texas wood destroying insect inspectors. What it does is make it nearly impossible to incorrectly fill out the SPCS/T-5, which is the Texas Official Wood Destroying Insect Report that TDA requires on every WDI inspection. The T-5 does not leave much room for error. It wants a diagram of every structure you inspected, yes or no answers across more than a dozen numbered sections, the right call on active versus previous infestation, the location and date you posted the notice of inspection sticker, and the signature and license number of the technician or certified applicator who actually did the work. Swarm Form walks you through those fields in order and puts out an all digital report that your clients, agents, and lenders can open on any device. Every one of our inspectors uses it.

Swarm Form WDI inspection software showing the digital Texas T-5 wood destroying insect report form

Is Swarm Form required by the Texas Department of Agriculture?

No. TDA promulgates the T-5 form and the instructions that go with it, but they do not name any particular software. Swarm Form is what we require of our own inspectors, so it is a company standard and not a state rule. We require it because a validated digital form catches the reporting mistakes that draw TDA attention, and because it saves time on every job.

What does the Texas T-5 report require?

These are the ones inspectors trip over most often, and they come straight out of TDA’s instructions for the form:

  • Only a licensed inspector may complete it. A WDI report can only be completed by a certified applicator or technician licensed in the termite control category. Apprentices may be present for training, but must be listed under “others present” in section 7B.
  • A diagram is mandatory. A diagram must be attached for all structures inspected, and it should resemble the structure including approximate perimeter measurements on all sides.
  • Attics and crawl spaces must be inspected if accessible. They may only be indicated as entirely inaccessible if it is physically impossible for any other inspector to access them.
  • Corrective treatment has a threshold. It may only be recommended when there is visible evidence of an active infestation, or visible evidence of a previous infestation with no evidence of a prior treatment.
  • The sticker must be documented. The inspector must record where the notice of inspection sticker was posted and the date it was actually posted.

Source: Texas Department of Agriculture, Instructions for the Texas Official Wood Destroying Insect Report (Form SPCS/T-5), revised 9/1/2019.

Who can use Swarm Form?

Swarm Form is included at no additional cost for every inspector who holds their TDA wood destroying insect license through WDI Science, whether they came to us as a new apprentice or transferred an existing license. There is no separate software subscription and no per seat fee. Inspectors pay a flat fee per report and nothing monthly.

Having trouble with the software? See Swarm Form troubleshooting. Not licensed with us yet? Start on the Get Licensed page, or transfer an existing license.