Do You Have Ants Or Termites?

If you have noticed one or multiple small brown bugs in your home, you might be wondering exactly what that bug is. Both termites and carpenter ants have very similar qualities, not only in their size and overall appearance, but also where you might find them in your home. Here are some tips for figuring out the difference between these two pests so you better know how to get rid of them.

What do termites look like?

Termites are small and pale insects with soft bodies that typically live in large colonies. You may find them in your home, chewing on different types of wood. They can also be found in nature destroying timber and trees. Termites have a more rectangular-shaped body without any major shapes and don't have a waste. Their antennae is beaded and straight, sticking out the top of their head. They also have four wings, each of which are the same shape and size, and are longer than their body.

What do carpenter ants look like?

Carpenter ants are similar in color to termites, except they are more of a brown color, as opposed to a pale color. They are larger than typical ants and found most often in forested areas. They also chew on types of wood. The carpenter ant has a very defined and narrow waist, one of the easiest ways to distinguish them from termites. Carpenter ants also have antenna, but it is more bent than the termite. They have four wings, with front wings longer than their back wings.

What else should you know about termites?

Termites avoid light, so you will not find them in bright areas or outside during a sunny day. If you notice fallen wings near a nest, these are probably from termites, as the wings fall off very easily. Termites choose their nest in a place where they are feeding on the food of that area. When chewing wood, termites prefer to chew through solid and sound wood, such as timber and trees, branches, houses, and even wood furniture.

What else should you know about carpenter ants?

Carpenter ants are darker, so they are easier to see in the open. They don't hide from the light like termites do, so you may see them walking around your home or outside it when they look for food. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don't eat the wood, but burrow into it to create nests where they sleep and hide from their prey. They push through the wood after creating openings in it, so you will see a lot of holes in your wood if you have these ants. They prefer moist and damaged wood, as opposed to sound wood.

The method of pest control for termites and carpenter ants has a main distinction: carpenter ants can be removed by removing the rotted or damaged wood, while termites require professional pest control (such as from Fowler Pest Control).