What is the difference between flying ants and termites

Distinctive Differences between Winged Ants and Swarming Termites

At first glance winged termites and winged ants look almost identical. Upon closer inspection there are some very distinctive differences. Both insects are about the same size, but the ant has a pinched waist, while the termite has a thick waist. You can clearly see the segments of the ant’s body but you cannot see the segments of the termite’s body.

Other areas of winged ant and swarming termite differences include the wings and the antennae. Both insects have two sets of wings, but while the termite’s wings are of equal length, the ant’s are not. The front set of wings is almost twice as long as the rear set.

What does it mean if you see swarming termites in your house?

If you see swarming insects in your home and you determine that they are termites, then it is very likely that you have a termite problem and should call a pest control professional immediately. Termites can do thousands of dollars of damage to a home, so you can’t afford to leave anything to chance.

Certain species of subterranean termites, like the Formosan, can do serious structural damage, feeding on the wooden portions of a house like the door frames, window frames, baseboards, and the wooden frame of the house. They can get in the walls, eating the drywall and the wooden support beams.

Why do ants and termites swarm?

Ants and termites swarm for the same reason: to start new colonies. Some species of termites have extremely large colonies. It’s not uncommon for members of a termite colony to forage 100 yards (the size of a football field) or more in search of food (wood), and their numbers can reach the millions! Keep this in mind the next time your neighbor is treating their home for termites. If your neighbor has them, chances are good that you do too. That isn’t always the case, but you should still have your home treated for termites to be on the safe side.

If you believe you have seen termites in your home and you still aren’t sure exactly how to tell the difference between a winged ant and swarming termite, call North Fulton Pest Solutions. One of our experienced, trained technicians will inspect your property and treat it for termites. Whether you are treating a termite infestation or you just want to take preventative measures to guard against termites, we are here to help.

What pest is eating your home? Distinguishing between termites, ants, and other pests

When considering what insect may be eating your home, many jump to the termite being the one and only culprit. You would be surprised to learn that a few pests actually do the dirty work of eating your floorboards, degrading the structure of your home, and cause holes in the walls. Critters such as carpenter ants, powderpost beetles, carpenter bees, and of course termites all work to destroy the house you call home.

Differences between flying ants and termites

The difference between flying ants vs termites. Flying ants can be quite a nuisance, but they are harmless and don’t cause structural damage to your home. However, termites do pose a threat and can destroy your home if you let them stay for too long. That’s why contacting an expert like your friends at University Termite and Pest Control is so important. They know how to treat issues like these before they become serious problems that can cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Major physical differences that may be able to be seen if a close enough examination is done would be to look at their waists. To tell the difference, ants will have straight antennae and a narrow waist vs the much hardier termite. Click here.

Flying Ants

As their name suggests, these tiny winged bugs fly from one place to another searching for food sources. They usually appear once or twice each year in most U.S. states during their mating season and have been spotted throughout North America since the early 1990s.

To deal with these flying insects, treat the ground around your home to create a barrier against their path. To do that, you can use products like diatomaceous earth or spray pesticide on the surface of the Earth where they land. You should also try to eliminate potential food sources that attract them by cleaning up any spills and sealing off crumbs so other ants can’t get access to them. Also, keep in mind that once you remove these winged pests from your home, you should seal holes and crevices so no new ones will come inside again and continue the infestation cycle.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants make their distinction by their name. They are a species of ant that mainly resides in wood, generally those with 28-40 percent moisture content. Carpenter ants will gnaw through drywall or other materials to get into your home and nest under the floors, inside walls, or walkways. Once one carpenter ant finds food sources, it attracts more by laying down pheromone trails that lead others straight to their newfound food source until you have hundreds of them all carrying debris back to their nest causing damage on the way.

Carpenter ant issues can be easily determined if you see flying ants inside your home during the summer months as this is when they go looking for water and moisture amongst plants and flowers outside your house which can then attract a swarm of ants into your home. If you have noticed flying ants in the house, the first thing to do is contact a professional immediately who will inspect your home for a carpenter ant infestation.

Termites

Termites are similar to ants in that they both live in a colony, however, termites are generally much larger than ants and can cause a lot of damage if left unfixed. They will usually first show up inside your home as flying bugs, but with the proper inspection, you should be able to determine what type of bug you have. The risk of leaving termites untreated is the amount of wood damage they do to the home. The wood will eventually be destroyed and the cost to replace that kind of damage isn’t cheap.

Termite infestation

A common type of termite in Phoenix, Arizona is the desert subterranean termite. This particular species can severely damage any home if not treated promptly. Within just a few years, you could end up spending thousands upon thousands of dollars on repairs. The good news is that there are many ways to treat these pests before they become too much of an annoyance or cause irreparable harm to your home. Pest control companies, such as University Termite and Pest Control, have been using liquid soil termiticides for years and it has proven quite effective at eliminating these pests from your home and keeping them out for good!

While termites can be beneficial to remove and break down dead plant matter, they will infest the home of someone who has built over their living space. They can start as a single termite or a small group and spread to the level of infestation within days, needing professional treatment to eradicate them.

Solving Your Pest Problem

Once you are able to identify the problem, the next step is making sure you have a long-lasting solution. Although they are small, they cause a much bigger problem if not addressed. Their damage increases exponentially the longer they live in your home, so contact a professional to assess the damage and eradicate the pests before they cause thousands of dollars in repairs.
Learning the differences between these can allow you to make the right call on what to do when you see ants or termites. When you are able to determine that you have something eating your floorboards, make sure you make the call to University Termite and Pest Control to handle your pest problem and get rid of your unwanted guests. To extend the life of your home, bring in professionals as soon as you think there is a problem.

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