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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,...
- 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.
People also ask
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Appearance Differences. Termites 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.
What is the difference between termites and flying ants? This helpful video from PestWorld will instruct you on how to recognize flying ants vs termites.
Jan 28, 2019 · By Alexa Erickson. Updated: Apr. 23, 2023. Flying ants and termites are not the same thing. Here are the differences and what you can do about an infestation. Amco Pest Solutions, Inc. House pests such as termites or ants are no fun.
Jul 20, 2022 · Appearance. There are a number of differences in the appearance of flying ants and termites. Here’s what to check to tell them apart: Antennae: Flying ants’ antennae have a noticeable bend, while termite antennae are straight. Wings: Flying ants and termites both sport two pairs of wings.
Termites have a thick waist, while flying ants have a narrow waist. Termites have equal-sized wings, while flying ants have front wings that are larger than their hind wings. Termites are known for their destructive behavior, causing damage to wooden structures, while flying ants do not pose the same level of threat.
