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Mar 7, 2024 · During your examination, you’ll discover flying ants have bent antennas, pinched waists, different front and back wing lengths and are black or brown. How to Identify a Flying Ant...
- Overview
- Wings
- Antennae
- Body
- Coloring
- Size
- Diet
- Habitat
- Nests
- Signs of Damage
You’re about to head out the door when you see a winged insect climbing across your windowsill. It sure looks like an ant, but could it actually be a termite? While these 2 insects look similar at first glance, there are actually key differences that make them easy to tell apart. In this article, we’ll go over these differences so you can determine which one you might be dealing with. Both of these insects can cause damage to your home, so we’ll also go over how to treat each one.
Termites have front and back wings that are the same length, while a flying ant’s front wings are longer than their back ones.
A flying ant’s antennae are bent, or elbow-shaped, while a termite’s antennae are straight.
Flying ants have a noticeable, cinched-in waist while a termite’s body is about the same width all the way across.
A termite’s wings are the same length, while a flying ant’s are unequal.
You’ll know that you’re looking at a termite because their front and back wings are the same length. However, a flying ant’s front wings are noticeably longer than their back ones.
A flying ant’s antennae are bent, while a termite’s are straight.
This is another sure-fire way to tell flying ants and termites apart. An ant’s antennae are bent into an elbow shape and look smooth. On the other hand, a termite’s antennae poke straight out from their head. If you can get a closer look, you’ll also see that their antennas are beaded, not smooth.
Flying ants have a noticeable waist while termites do not.
Ants are well known for their cinched-in waist. This clearly differentiates their thorax, or the middle segment of their body, from their abdomen, or end segment. Termites do not have a noticeable waist like this. Their bodies are about the same width across from their head to their abdomen.
Unlike termites, flying ants can be reddish in color.
Termites usually only look black or brown. While flying ants also come in black and brown varieties, they often look reddish, too. So, if the insect in your home looks like it’s more on the red side, it’s probably a flying ant.
Termites are uniform in size, while flying ants often vary in size.
Most termites are all about the same size, measuring to just 0.25 inches (0.6 cm) long. While flying ants can also be that small, their sizes vary more widely than termites. You might see one that’s 0.25 inches (0.6 cm) long and another right beside it that’s 0.5 inches (1 cm) long!
Termites eat wood, while flying ants eat plants, insects, and crumbs.
One of the most interesting facts about termites is that they eat wood. They are actually one of the few animals that are able to break it down and use it as fuel!
Though flying ants like wood, they’re not interested in eating it. They are omnivores, meaning they eat plants, other insects, and any crumbs they can find.
Always wipe up crumbs and spills as soon as they happen. Flying ants munch on anything they can find, so they’re often attracted to food and liquids that are left out.
While both live near wood, flying ants prefer moist wood.
Termites and flying ants both share a love of wood, usually building their nests in or by tree stumps and wooden structures. However, flying ants are a bit more picky than termites. You’re more likely to find them near damp wood than dry.
To prevent either bug from entering your home, store firewood and other wooden materials high off the ground and away from your house. Also trim back any tree branches that touch your home; branches that touch your house can become pathways inside.
Because flying ants love moist wood, they often build their nests behind sinks, dishwashers, under bathtubs, by window and door frames, or anywhere with an active leak.
Flying ants create cleaner nests and tunnels than termites.
Both insects love to tunnel through wood to build their nests. However, a flying ant’s nest looks smooth, as if it’s been sanded down.
Termites’ tunnels are a lot messier. As they eat wood, they leave behind a mud-like substance that covers their tunnel walls.
Finding flying ants or termites in your home is not always a sign that you’re dealing with an infestation. They might just have a nest near your home.
Termites make mud-like tunnels while flying ants leave behind sawdust.
One of the tell-tale signs of a termite infestation are thin, mud-like tunnels running down your house’s foundation. Other common
are cracks along your foundation and sagging floors.
When flying ants dig through wood, they leave sawdust in their wake. If you find any trails of it around your home, that might be a sign that a nest is nearby.
Generally, termites cause more structural and foundation damage to homes than flying ants.
While no one wants to find termites in their home, the good news is that they eat slowly. It can take several weeks to months for termites to cause damage, so you have plenty of time to get them under control.
Jul 20, 2022 · Color: Flying termites, or swarmers, are typically brown or black. Winged ants, on the other hand, vary in color from black to brown or even reddish tones, with brownish wings. Notably, termite wings tend to be more transparent in comparison.
- What should I do if I find flying ants or termites in my house?If you find flying ants in your home, it’s usually a temporary nuisance. However, if you suspect termites, it’s crucial to act promptly. Contact a...
- Can flying ants and termites coexist in the same area?Yes, it’s possible for flying ants and termites to share the same environment, as they may both be attracted to similar conditions, such as warm, h...
- Do flying ants and termites have different behaviors at night?Do flying ants and termites have diffe...Yes, they do. Flying ants are typically diurnal insects, which means they are more active during the day. In contrast, termites, especially subterr...
- Do flying ants and termites prefer different types of wood?Flying ants don’t typically infest wood — they are more interested in finding a mate and establishing new colonies. Termites, on the other hand, ar...
- Can I rely on DIY methods to eliminate flying ants or termites?While DIY methods like insect sprays may help manage flying ants temporarily, they won’t effectively treat a termite infestation. Professionals can...
People also ask
How do termites differ from ants?
Are termite wings the same as flying ants?
Are all swarming insects termites?
How do you tell a flying ant from a termite?
They are characteristically black or dark brown. Swarmers, or flying termites, have clear front and back wings that are the same length. More about what a termite looks like. In contrast, ants have elbowed antennae and pinched waists. Their bodies can be black, brown, or reddish.
Jan 28, 2019 · The two differ, so let’s help you decipher difference between flying ants and termites. Flying Ants. Flying ants, also called carpenter ants, are winged swarmers with elbowed antennae, pinched waists and hind wings smaller than their front wings. Their bodies can be black, brown or a reddish color. While worker ants live for a few months, the ...
Diet – Ants eat carbohydrates and proteins, while termites eat the cellulose inside of wood. Visibility – Flying ants can be visible in your home, but termites can only be seen when swarming. Behavior – Both ants and termites are attracted to wood and moisture, but ants are also attracted to sweets. What do winged termites look like?
Apr 1, 2020 · Flying termites and flying ants do two very different things: while ants with wings are basically just airborne irritants, termites with wings (also known as termite swarmers) are an early warning sign that a termite colony is scouting your home as a possible feasting ground. What does it matter?
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related to: black flying ants vs flying termites pictures of termites california todayOver 35 years experience in integrated food safety pest management solutions. Weevil pest control for food safety. Get rid of boll, rice, corn, grain, bean weevils.
