Difference Between Termites and Ants and How to Tell Them Apart
One day you are sitting in the living room watching TV or reading a book and suddenly you see something out of the corner of your eye. He was tiny, dark in color and fast, but he couldn’t be seen well. You spot another and track him around the room until you find a whole colony of these insects living for free in your house.
Before you can start dealing with them, you first need to figure out what they are. You suspect ants or termites but don’t know which. Given that they are two different creatures that do different damage, it would be nice to know a little more about your new roommates. In an article for BobVila.com, Melissa Graham talks about the differences between ants and termites, including when to call a professional.
How to tell ants from termites
Let’s start with their appearance. Here are some of the key differences between ants and termites, courtesy of Graham :
Color
You’ve probably seen ants once and you know that they are quite dark in color – dark red, brown or black. On the other hand, termites are translucent, light-colored, or white.
Antennas
If you can get close enough to these insects to see their antennae, it will also tell you which insect you are dealing with. That’s because ants have curved or curved antennae, while termites have straight antennae, Graham explains.
Body
Society has taught us to look at other people’s bodies and then judge them, and now it’s time to apply this skill to mistakes. According to Graham, the abdomen of termites does not have a well-defined waist, while ants have a well-defined waist and more rectangular bodies.
Wings
To complicate things a bit, there are types of both insects that can fly, and each has four wings. Here is Graham with the details:
Termites’ wings are equal in length and longer than their body, and the wings of flying ants are not equal in length. The hind hind wings of an ant are shorter than the front front wings and are fairly proportional to their bodies. Termites also have very fragile wings that can fall off easily, and if you see fallen wings in your home, this can sometimes indicate an infection.
Places to see ants or termites
Another clue as to which insect you are dealing with is where you found it.
Outdoors, in broad daylight
Graham explains that termites tend to avoid light. So unless you’re on a mission to find them outdoors, you probably haven’t seen them outside. Ants, on the other hand, are not shy, and you’ve probably seen them crawling outdoors and / or at picnics (both real and in cartoons).
Near food or tree
One of the key differences between ants and termites is their diet. Ants are not picky about their food: they feed on plants, animals and any food waste or garbage. They can often be seen on kitchen counters (especially when food is scarce) crawling over trash cans and surrounding pet food bowls.
On the other hand, termites only consume what is rich in cellulose, such as wood and paper, says Graham. So instead of finding them near human food sources, you are more likely to spot them in drywall, cardboard, insulation, wood, and other materials with this delicious cellulose.
And if you find wood damage in your home – especially piles of sawdust or wood pellets – and suspected insects, chances are good that you are dealing with termites. Ants usually do not damage wood.
How to get rid of ants and termites
Common house ants are mostly something you can take care of yourself. ( Here’s how to do it .) But if you suspect you are dealing with fire or carpenter ants, Graham says you might want to go to a professional to assess the situation. Likewise, due to the structural damage that termites can cause (which is not always noticeable), it is also best to check with a professional if you think these house destroyers have moved in with you.