SIGNS OF TERMITES & CARPENTER ANTS

The Difference Between Termites & Ants

Termites are often mistaken for flying ants, but there are ways to tell them apart:

• Both swarming termites and swarming ants have two pairs of wings. Termites front and hindwings are the same shape and size. However, ants front wings are larger than their hindwings.

• Ant antennae are elbowed, while termites are straight.

• Ants have a narrow, pinched waist, while termites waists are not pinched.

Carpenter ants leave smooth, cleaned out galleries in the damaged wood, whereas termite damage will be ragged in appearance and the galleries filled with mud debris.

Carpenter ants do not consume the wood and will leave behind a coarse chiseled out wood material (Frass) which will also include ant parts.