Every year, an estimated
600,000 American homes sustain termite damage. If you’re wondering about what types of pests are invading your home, you might be curious about termites vs flying ants, and how to tell the difference.
Termites may cause wood to buckle within your home and may present as water damage. But are flying ants as bas as termites?
Although flying ants don’t cause structural damage like termites, it’s best to remove nuisances from your property before they turn into a larger issue.
This helpful guide explains the difference between flying ants vs termites and what to look out for, helping to prevent an infestation.
Flying Ants
Flying ants have two wings on each side, both unequal length-wise. Their wings have a pointed appearance at the ends and appear to be tinted brown.
If you see a flying ant, you’ll notice that it looks like a
traditional ant, with pinched waists. Termites, however, lack this pinched waist.
When comparing antennae, flying ants have an elbow in their antennae and have a stick-like appearance. Some ants, including
carpenter ants, live in wood.
But do flying ants eat wood like termites? No, flying ants don’t eat wood. They do, however, excavate and tunnel through wood as they build their nests.
Ants are omnivores and prefer nectar, other insects, food debris, and seeds in and around your home.
Ants have four life cycles, including egg, larvae, pupa, ad adult, with worker ants typically only living a few months.
Termites
Termites have wings that are roughly ⅓ or ½ an inch longer than its body. Its wings are rounded at the ends.
Termites also have an antenna that differs from an ant antenna. It appears to be made of a series of stacked, tiny balls. They’re usually reddish in color or black or brown.
Swarms of termites are also much smaller than swarms of carpenter ants, for example. If you encounter winged insects measuring less than 13-17mm, you most likely have termites.
A professional pest removal company in Sparta, NJ, can help you identify the insect invading your home.
You can find termites in tree stumps, decaying trees, lumber, and wood debris. They eat wood and cause serious structural damage. You’ll find termites feeding on cellulose, commonly found in plants, magazines, and books.
Termite queens can live for decades, and their life cycle consists of three phases: eggs, nymph (larva), and an adult phase.
Termites vs Flying Ants: Get Rid of Them Today
If you suspect a pest infestation and are wondering about the difference between termites vs flying ants, odds are you need professional pest removal. Termites can cause significant structural damage as they eat wood. Although ants don’t eat wood, they still tunnel inside it, causing a host of issues.
Luckily, Serene Property Services can help. We offer commercial and residential pest control.
Contact us today for an estimate, and to rid your house of a pest infestation. We offer pest control in Sparta, NJ, and the surrounding areas, including Warwick, NY.
