Is That An Ant or Termite? Ant vs. Termite Identification Guide

Carpenter Ant or Termite?

If you have ever witnessed a group of winged insects, that you can not identify in your home, it can be extremely alarming. After you shriek, an initial thought might be TERMITES! However, don't hit the panic button quite yet.Ants are a common problem in our region. Unfortunately, so are termites. The two are often misidentified and confused by homeowners. Treatment for each type of pest varies greatly so correctly identifying the differences between the two is critical to determining what type of damage there may be as well as eliminating the problem.Many homeowners often confuse termites and ants in that the flying ant looks much like a termite and the damage can sometimes look similar. Here is a quick side-by-side comparison so that you know what kind of pest you are dealing with in your home whether it is an ant or termite.

Appearance

To begin our comparison, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the differences in appearance between a winged ant and a termite.All insects have three body regions � the head, the thorax, and the abdomen. These regions are not always apparent in all insects, though. The body of the termite is rather straight. This makes it hard to see the three body regions. The ant has a very thin waist. Carpenter ants' bodies do have 3 distinct regions that you will be able to see.

Carpenter Ant Appearance

When comparing ants vs termites, the first thing to do is to look at their antennae. If you take a close look at the antennae of a carpenter ant, you will see that they are bent. Carpenter ants also differ from termites in that they have dark-colored bodies, narrow waists, and - if wings are present - hind wings that are shorter than front wings. Carpenter ant wings have a brown tint to them. Carpenter ants are very common and are frequently seen in the open, especially after sunset. An ant generally has three distinct body segments.

Termite Appearance

Termites are light-colored, have a broad waist, and, if present, wings are of equal length. Termite wings are white and translucent. They avoid light and are rarely seen outside of their colony, except when winged reproductives, called kings and queens, leave a termite colony. A termite has two distinct body segments with a waistline closer to the head. Termite antennae are straight. They are also shorter than carpenter ant antennae.

Behavior

Termites and ants also behave differently. While both pests live in colonies, they tend to live in separate areas.

Termite Behavior

Termites love to nest in rotting trees, wooden structures, tree stumps, and firewood stacks. Carpenter ants also frequent wooden locations, but they can be found in other areas like bathrooms, kitchens, and backyards where water is easily accessible. Termites also create pencil-sized mud tubes to travel in and around your property to get to their food source and back to their nest.

Ant Behavior

Carpenter ants do not consume wood but rather just hollow out the wood for nesting galleries. A small pile of sawdust will be located just outside carpenter ant tunnels, which can be easily missed unless you're on the lookout.

Dietary Choices

Ant Food

Carpenter ants eat nectar, seeds, other insects, and food debris found around and inside homes. They do not eat the wood that they are hollowing out.

Termite Food

Termites consume mainly wood, paper, and other cellulose-based products.

Know The Difference, Save Your Home

When there are swarms of flying insects inside or outside of a home, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a swarm of flying ants and a swarm of termites. Telling the difference is extremely important, because ants are generally just a nuisance, whereas termites can cause extensive, extremely expensive damage to a home.If you are concerned about ants or termites infesting your home in New England, call Pest-End Exterminators at 1-800-287-4321, 603-382-9644, or 978-794-4321. We can thoroughly inspect and determine whether your uninvited house guests are ants or termites, and then schedule an appropriate treatment plan.