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Mar 1, 2023 · 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.
- 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.
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- Termites vs. Ant Damage to Homes
- Physical Differences
- Behavioral Differences
- Signs of Ants vs. Termites
- Controlling Carpenter Ants and Termites
Carpenter ants (Camponotus) and termites (Isoptera) share several similarities, not the least because they are both notorious for causing wood damage in homes. Termites cause damage to homes faster than carpenter ants, creating significant damage within two to four years. Damage from carpenter ants can take a number of years and is usually easier t...
Ants and termites have several different physical characteristics to tell them apart. The most notable differences are termites have much longer, fragile wings and white, rectangular bodies while carpenter ants have two wings more proportionate to their reddish-black bodies with well-defined, narrow waists.
Both carpenter ants and termites build their nests in wood, but carpenter ants prefer moist, damaged wood whereas termites will chew and eat through healthy wood. Carpenter ants also build clean tunnels so you may see wood shavings near the holes, but termites create ragged tunnels and mud tubes to travel between the soil and wood.
Carpenter Ants
1. Large, winged ants scurrying around near or inside your home 2. Smooth, finished tunnels in moist wood structures 3. Wood shavings outside of tunnel holes
Termites
1. Loose wings near tunnel holes 2. Ragged, rough tunnels with layers of dirt 3. Mud tubes on walls or leading up to your home 4. Significant signs of wood damage 5. Hollow-sounding wood structures
Because carpenter ants and termites are so different, each requires different control measures to remove them. Carpenter ants can often be controlledby eliminating the conditions that attract them (e.g. rotting wooden structures), but a termite infestation usually requires professional help. Ask a pest control expert about using different chemicals...
Dec 28, 2023 · To identify a termite, examine the insect closely for 4 wings that are the same size as the insect's body. If the wings are different sizes, it's probably an ant. Termites also have 2 straight antennae, whereas ant antennae are curved. Additionally, termite bodies can be dark brown, black, white, and sometimes even translucent.
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.
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...
Dec 19, 2023 · Ants have two sets of wings that are different lengths, three distinct body segments and bent antennae. Here are some other way termites and ants differ: Body: Termites have broad waists, while ants have narrow, pinched waists. Wings: Termite wings are equal in length, while ants have broad forewings and narrow, shorter hindwings. Antennae ...
