How to tell the difference between ants and termites?
May 10, 2021 · 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. Front and hind wings similar in shape and or equal length, pale, translucent.
Why do flying termites mean serious trouble?
If the insect has three distinctly visible body parts – 1) the head, 2) the thorax and 3) the abdomen, it is a flying ant. Flying ants have a thin, pinched-in waist that divides their body into three different parts. On the other hand, if the insect has a relatively straight body and you can only distinguish the head from the body, it is a termite.
How to identify a termite?
Apr 01, 2020 · In set one, you can see that flying termites have 4 wings all of equal length, while flying ants have 2 sets of wings (front and back) that are different lengths. In set two, notice that the antennae are subtly different–but different nonetheless. Flying termites have straight antennae, while flying ants have slightly elbowed antennae.
How do termites and ants differ?
The termite antennas are curved, not angular. Wings – Ants and termites have four wings. But on ants, the wings on the lower torso are shorter than the upper wings. On termites, all four wings are the same size. The wings also differ in color. Termite wings are clear, while ant wings are translucent brown or black.
How do I know if I have termites or flying ants?
While both species have four wings, termite wings are uniform in size. Winged ants have noticeably larger wings in the front than the pair in the back. Termites antennae are almost straight where the ant's antennae is elbowed. Termite wings are twice as long as their body.Dec 10, 2021
What is the best way to visually tell the difference between ants and termites?
Body shape: If you look at the insect's body shape, take a good look at the abdomen area. A termite has no "waist,” instead, its body is more rectangular, without any narrowing in the center. In contrast, the carpenter ant has a very well-defined narrow, constricted waist.Jan 31, 2022
Why do flying ants suddenly appear?
Why are there flying ants? Ants fly and appear in swarms for much the same reason that termites do. They are getting ready to reach out and start a new colony. They fly in order to find a good place to start a colony and to look for suitable mates.
Does a termite look like?
Drywood termites are typically pale brown, but they can vary in color from light, yellowish tan to dark brown. Workers: Like subterranean termites, drywood worker termites are cream to white in color. Soldiers: These have darker, orangish-brown heads and opaque bodies.
Differences Between Ants and Termites
For many homeowners, the first obvious sign of termite infestation is a swarm of flying insects. However, not all swarming insects are termites – some are flying ants. Pest control experts are trained to distinguish between flying ants and termites based on a few physical characteristics.
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.
Behavior Differences
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.
Diet Differences
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.
Life Cycle Differences
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 queens may live for decades.
How to tell the difference between flying ants and termites?
Spotting the difference between flying ants and winged termites. There are three simple ways to distinguish one pest from the other. To spot the differences, you’ll need a microscope. If you don’t have one, you can use a regular field glass as well.
What is the difference between a termite and an ant?
The wings of termites are disproportionately long and are twice as large as the insect itself.
What are the black bugs that can give you creeps?
Answer: Both flying ants and winged termites are small, black household pests that can give homeowners the creeps, and not without good reason. These four-winged pests are notorious for their disastrous effects on the sanitation of indoor spaces and on the health of family members.
How to tell if an insect is a flying ant?
The body: Catch the flying insect and pull back its wings to get a close look at its body parts through your field glass or microscope. If the insect has three distinctly visible body parts – 1) the head, 2) the thorax and 3) the abdomen, it is a flying ant.
When do termites swarm?
Another distinction is the time of the year – termites swarm mostly in the warm and rainy weather of early spring while flying ants follow different times of the year.
Do flying ants have a straight waist?
Winged termites have a straight waist; for this reason, no distinct difference between their thorax and abdomen exists.
Do flying ants shed their wings?
Flying ants, in fact, develop wings specifically for swarming and shed their wings soon after mating and settling in a nest. Though flying ants are relatively less harmful than winged termites, you don’t want any of the two pest groups to be buzzing around in your house.
How many wings does a flying ant have?
In set one, you can see that flying termites have 4 wings all of equal length, while flying ants have 2 sets of wings (front and back) that are different lengths. In set two, notice that the antennae are subtly different–but different nonetheless. Flying termites have straight antennae, while flying ants have slightly elbowed antennae.
What does it mean when a termite swarms?
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?
Termites Vs. Flying Ants: Similarities
Both ants and termites grow wings and take flight to breed before spreading colonies around the area. Like ants, termites have a “caste” system where only certain termites can breed. In ants, these are called the queens and drones. In termites, we usually call them queens and kings.
Differences Between Flying Ants and Termites
Time to catch one in a jar and take a closer look. Keep in mind that both ants and termites will bite if caught by hand, so use caution.
How to Get Rid of Termites
Don’t take a chance. If you are still unsure if those are ants or termites, please call a termite expert out to take a look. Call (832) 230-6433 now to speak with a member of the Life After Bugs team or request a termite inspection online in Richmond or Katy, Texas. Catch termite infestations early to prevent expensive damage.
What are the characteristics of termites?
You’d think, well, that’s not helpful, but honestly this characteristic is actually one of the better differentiating characteristics. A termite has wings that are of equal size and shape and its wings are much longer than its body.
What color are termite wings?
Color: Ant workers are reddish or dark-colored and are frequently seen in the open foraging for food.
How do termites eat wood?
The way that the two insects interact with wood is different. For example, termites eat the wood in which they nest. Carpenter ants merely dig into the wood to excavate their nests; they do not eat the wood but simply push it out through openings of the galleries of their colonies. So, if you see small piles of wood shavings or frass (insect waste) below the holes, it helps to identify an infestation of carpenter ants. Carpenter ants seek out moist and damaged wood in which to excavate their nests; termites will chew right into the healthy wood. 1
What are the two most damaging insects?
Two Damaging Insects. Carpenter ants (Camponotus) and termites (Isoptera) share several similarities, not the least of which, is that they both are notorious for causing wood damage in homes. Outside of wing size during reproduction, termites are roughly the same size as the many species of large ants that fall into the carpenter ant group;
Why are termite galleries rough?
The tunnels and galleries of the carpenter ants will be very smooth and finished; termite galleries, by comparison, are rough and ragged because they are filled with layers of soil and mud.
What to do if you have winged ants?
If you do have winged ant-like insects in your home or building, it is best to try to collect a sample for identification. The sample can be used to compare with online photos and graphics, or you can show it to an entomologist or a pest control professional for identification and recommended treatment.
Do carpenter ants have wings?
A carpenter ant’s back, hind wings are shorter than its front forewings and the wings do not look unusually long or disproportionate to its body. Another thing with termites is that their wings are not as durable as ants. The wings of the termite fall off easily.
How to tell the difference between a flying ant and a termite?
How can you tell the difference between a flying ant and flying termite? While both flying termites and ants have four wings, termites have two large pairs of wings which are the same size. Winged ants have noticeably larger wings in the front than the pair in the back. Termite wings are twice as long as their body.
Why are ants segmented?
Ants appear distinctly segmented, because of their thin waist. Termites have a broad waist and are mostly a uniform width along their entire body. Flying termites are often a dark honey colour, although this can be difficult to determine as the melanin in different termite species and environments is variable.
What's The difference?
- Termites have:
1. straight antennae 2. equal length wings 3. straight waist
Flying Ants Have
- bent antennae
- unequal length wings
- pinched waist
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. Their bodies can be black, brown, or reddis...
Behavior Differences
- 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 carpenter ants do not eat wo…
Diet Differences
- 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.
Life Cycle Differences
- 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 reproductive cycles. During warm months, fertile …
Termite Control
- 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 inspection We’ll determine whether you actually have termites, then discuss a treatment plan including fina…