Pests

Termites and Ants: How to Tell the Difference

There are approximately 91,000 species of insects in the United States alone. In the world, there are about 10 quintillion individual insects at any one time. With massive numbers such as these, it is no surprise that at times it can be hard to tell insects apart from each other. Two very important insects which can have great impacts on a home are termites and ants. Mistaking these insects for one another can cause unwanted consequences for your home.

Swarming termites and flying ants are commonly mistaken for one and the same, with most people mistaking a wingless termite for an ant. However, there are three distinct characteristics from which to differentiate the two insects.

Antennae

Ants have "elbowed" antennae, which are bent at an angle.

Termites have beaded antennae, similar to a string of beads.

Wings

Ants have larger fore wings than their hind wings.

Termites have their fore and hind wings of equal size.

Waist

Ants have a thin and narrow waist.

Termites have a broad waist.

Besides these three tell-tale signs, you can tell which insect is which by inspecting the body - the ant has three distinct body parts which include the head, abdomen, and thorax. The ant's body is separated into two body parts while the termites have just a head and one continuous body.

After Insect Identification

If you have determined that the flying insect in your home is a termite, there could be a variety of causes to think about before you take any action. A few swarmers found indoors could just mean that the termites came in through the home on someone's skin or shirt or simply flown through an open door or window. Termites can even be found crawling through bathroom and kitchen vents. However, if you find a large number of termites, it may be an indication of a colony in or underneath the home's structure. In these cases, the home needs to be inspected and possibly treated by a pest control operator. A professional and thorough termite inspection will determine how serious the termite problem is and if any treatments are necessary.

Swarmers that land on the exterior of your home are usually not a cause for concern as it means that they simply landed somewhere. Termite swarmers cannot harm the home, as they do not eat wood. The worker termite on the other hand, does consume wood and can cause great damage to a home or building.

Now that you know the basic differentiating factors between termites and ants, try your hand at telling which insect group is which:

For professional pest control assistance, please contact ABC! Remember, we deal with all crawling insects! You can make an appointment with ABC at the following link: Make an Appointment

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