Unless you’re an entomologist, you might not have the slightest clue as to whether you just saw a flying ant (better known as a carpenter ant) in your home or winged termites. After all, they do look remarkably similar.
Of course, you don’t want either one around your home, but determining which one you’ve got hanging about is important when it comes to handling the situation.
What’s the difference between termites and carpenter ants?
You’ll notice that both of these insects have four wings, however the termite has all four wings of the same size while the carpenter ants have larger wings in front. Termites have antennae that appear mostly straight. The carpenter ant’s antennae is bent. Termite wings are bigger than their bodies while the winged ant have shorter ones. And finally, the carpenter ants have waists that appear distinctive in their segmentation while the termites do not.
What’s the difference in behavior?
Because both of these insects swarm during the spring mating season, they can be mistaken for each other. That makes it a tough trick for homeowners looking to get them off their property. Watch them closely and you may just be able to tell yourself. The ant workers appear red or dark-colored. You’ll notice them openly gathering food. But the termite workers are a light or transparent color and they avoid the light. Termites often lose their wings easily. Often, this is how a pest control expert can find the site of infestation.
Additionally, termites eat the wood while carpenter ants just dig into it to use it for their nest. Carpenter ants look for moist, damaged wood while termites will chomp on good wood.
What to do if you have carpenter ants or termites
Generally speaking, if you want to get rid of carpenter ants, you can usually do so by getting rid of the damp and rotting wood that attracted them there. Termites will require professional extermination in order to get rid of them. Don’t take matters into your own hands for treatment. Try to get a sample of one of the bugs for identification or get a photo. Make sure it is of good quality so an expert can assist you.
Then you can call Spears Pest Control to help you exterminate your termite problems. A leader in the industry with quality pest control professionals, they’re the go-to bug exterminators in Northwest Florida. If you suspect you’ve got termites, or any bugs are bugging you, schedule an appointment for a free estimate and analysis with Spears Pest Control today by calling 850-682-5354 or filling out our contact us form online! We proudly serve the Crestview, Ft. Walton Beach, Niceville, Destin & surrounding areas.
I like that you pointed out that it would be best to take a clear photo of the pest and take it to a professional to really identify what are those. I guess I have to share this tip with my sister because she has been panicking about the discarded wings that she saw this afternoon. She is afraid of insects which is why she can’t stand any sign of these things in her house.