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Mar 7, 2024 · Getty Images. Both termites and flying ants, also called carpenter ants, can be big nuisances to homeowners. Both insects fly, gnaw through wood and can invade your home. However, according...
- What's The difference?
- Flying Ants Have
- Appearance Differences
- Behavior Differences
- Diet Differences
- Life Cycle Differences
- Termite Control
Termites have:
1. straight antennae 2. equal length wings 3. straight waist
bent antennaeunequal length wingspinched waistTermites have straight antennae and wide bodies without pinched waists. 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 reddis...
Both ants and termites live in large colonies with designated caste systems. Termites can be found in decaying trees, stumps, wood debris, lumber, and the wooden members of a structure. Some ants, like carpenter ants, also inhabit wood and the wooden parts of structures. Termites can cause serious structural damagesince they eat the wood, while car...
The diets of these two pests differ, as ants are omnivores and termites feed on cellulose, which is a nutrient-rich material found in plants. Ants primarily eat nectar, seeds, other insects, and food debris found around and inside homes. On the other hand, termites consume mainly wood, paper, and other cellulose-based products.
Ants go through four stages of development: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Worker ants live for a few months, while queens can live for years. In contrast, the termite life cycle includes egg, nymph (larvae), and adult phases. Most termites survive for a couple years, while termite queensmay live for decades. Both types of pests have similar reproduc...
How do you know if you have termites? Learn the signs to look for to determine if you might have a termite infestation. Why should you be worried? Termites cost Americans more than $5 billion in damage each year and most insurance plans don’t cover the damage. Schedule a FREE termite inspection We’ll determine whether you actually have termites, th...
People also ask
How do you distinguish flying ants from termites?
Are termites flying ants?
What is the difference between a flying ant and a winged termite?
What does a termite look like?
- Termites have straight antennae, while ants have elbowed antennae. You can look closely at the antennae of the species you’re trying to identify to determine whether it’s an ant or a termite.
- Termites have straight, wide bodies, and ants have narrow, pinched bodies. Once you’re close enough to compare the bodies of termites to ants, you’ll likely see that the abdomen on a termite has no defined waist.
- Wood damage indicates the presence of termites. Ants won’t damage wood. Since ants typically don’t eat wood, they likely aren’t the cause of any significant structural damage to your home, should you have any.
- Ants are drawn to food debris. Cellulose-rich things like wood and paper will attract termites. Ants are omnivores, which means their diet consists of food from both plants and animals.
Mar 1, 2023 · Updated: March 1, 2023. Termite swarmer on the left, ant on the right. Photo: D. Clement. Comparing winged ants and termites. Flying ants may be distinguished from termites by the following: Ants. Elbowed antennae. Front wings longer than hind wings, tinted brown. Pinched or "wasp-waist". Body black, brown or reddish. Termites. Straight antennae.
Is that a termite or a flying ant? Let PestWorld assist in your termite identification. Browse pictures of termite species, and learn how to spot termites.
Feb 24, 2023 · 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.
Tell your neighbors. Although they are vastly different, termites and flying ants are often mistaken for one another. This can result in disastrous property damage if you ignore what you think are ants, only to discover later that you're actually dealing with termites.
