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Mar 7, 2024 · 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 to the EPA, termite ...
- 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.
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. Flying ants have two pairs of brown-tinted wings that differ in size.
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Jul 20, 2022 · Termites’ hind wings match the length of their front wings. Additionally, flying ants’ wings are about as long as the ant’s body, while termites’ wings are almost double the length of the body. Body shape: You’ll spot what I term as ‘pinched waists’ on ants, where the abdomen and thorax connect in a slender, pinch-like fashion.
- 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...
Waist – Ants have a pinched waist, while termites have a fatter, straight waist. Wings – Flying ants have two pairs of wings that are different sizes. Termites, on the other hand, have two pairs of wings that are the same size. Diet – Ants eat carbohydrates and proteins, while termites eat the cellulose inside of wood.
Jan 23, 2024 · Flying ants have a narrow waist and elbowed antennae, while termites have a broad waist and straight antennae. Additionally, flying ants have two pairs of wings that are different in size, while termites have two pairs of wings that are the same size. These physical differences can help distinguish between the two insects.
Jan 28, 2019 · 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 queens can live for years. These pests feed on nectar, seeds, other insects and food debris in and ...
