What Is The Difference Between Flying Ants And Termites

An ant s body segments are easily seen because their waists are much skinnier than a termite s.

The sudden appearance of swarming ants or termites in flight is a good indicator that there is an infestation nearby. Both flying ants and termites swarm as part of the mating process. Here are some ways do identify the differences between flying ants vs termites. Both ants and termites have a very developed social class structure.

You can easily tell the difference between an ant and termite by looking at their body segments. Ants are scavengers with different species foraging for different foods. Ants have 3 body segments head thorax abdomen and termites have 2 body segments head and abdomen. At first glance it s hard to distinguish between ants and termites so here s what you need to know.

Flying ants are noticeable to someone who knows what to look for. Finally termites and flying ants have different wings. Ants antennae have a 90 degree bend in the middle while termite antennae are straight. The males die soon after while the queens drop their wings to find a nesting site.

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Ant and termites also have different antennae. Termites usually swarm during spring while ants are known to fly during the summer season. While both species have four wings termite wings are uniform in size. Though termites can be similar in size to certain species of ants when observed up close they have very distinguishable characteristics.

Both have two pairs of wings and both get rid of them in similar ways. Termites are plant tissue specialists feeding on wood and grasses and some species can cause extensive damage to buildings and trees through their feeding and nesting habits. Termites antennae are almost straight where the ant s antennae is elbowed. Termites will chew right into the healthy wood.

Winged ants have noticeably larger wings in the front than the pair in the back. They can wind up close to your home or actually in or about your home. The physical characteristics of termites vs. Another obvious difference is the way the wood tunnels look.

Termites have thick straight waists while ants have a pinched waist with three distinct body segments. Carpenter ants infestation photo credit. Termites have straight antennae while ants have elbowed antennae. Most of the time termites are lurking underground out of sight.

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Also termites have beaded antennae while ants antennae are smooth. Both of these species flying ants and winged termites are seeing swarming around sources which emit light when it is dark. Rest easy pest control notice what they eat diet is crucial. Carpenter ants seek out moist and damaged wood in which to excavate their nests.

However there is enough difference between ants and termites to readily tell them apart.