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What are the differences between ants and termites?

Ants and termites are sometimes mistaken for each other, however they are very different insect groups. Several key features help to identify them correctly.

Antennae Ants: Elbowed. Termites: Simple string of bead-like segments. Eyes Ants: Compound eyes present. Termites: No eyes. Waist (called a pedicel, found between thorax and abdomen) Ants: Present. Termites: Absent. Abdomen Ants: Pointed at end. Termites: Blunt at end. Castes Both ants and termites can be divided up into several castes, which depend upon their roles in the colony. Workers Ants: Sexually undeveloped females. Termites: Sexually undeveloped males and females. Soldiers Ants: Are workers and may have dual role. Termites: Sexually undeveloped males and females. There are two possible body forms: mandibulate (jawed) and nasute (long-nosed), depending on species. Reproductives (winged) Both ants and termites can have a winged stage in their reproductive cycle. Ants: Fore/hind wings unequal, strongly veined Termites: Fore/hind wings equal, no obvious veins Life cycle Ants: Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult

Termites: Incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, adult (no pupal stage) Diet Ants: ants are scavengers, with different species foraging for different foods. Some ants live within damp/decaying wood, but do not actually eat the wood. Termites: 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. Scientific classification

Ants: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae Termites: Order Isoptera, several families

Flying Ants The sight of flying ants in and around the home alarms most people. Contrary to popular belief, flying ants are not always a sign of termites or termite infestations in a home. Compare Flying Ants to Flying Termites Winged Termites Found in Home Wood Treatment Ants with Wings, Termites with Wings Termites do indeed spread their species by swarming (sending winged reproductives out of the colony) but so do many species of ants. There are simple ways to inspect the insects to determine whether they are ants with wings or termites with wings. The easiest way to tell the difference between the two is to inspect the body parts of the insect, which can be done without the use of a microscope or field glass in most cases. Termites have two visible body parts: a head and a body. All ants have three distinct body parts: head, abdomen and thorax. In other words, the ant's body is separated into two body parts. Compare Wings of Ant/ Termite Compare Antennae of Ants, Termites

We have all seen ants in our lifetime. Ants can be found indoors, outdoors, on plants, in our lawns and in flower or vegetable garden. There are many different species of ants in the United States but they all have one thing in common: the classic head, abdomen , thorax sections of their body. If you find winged insects in or around your home and want to make sure that they are not termites, pull back their wings and look closely at the body parts. If the bug you inspect looks like an ant, it is usually an ant. If it does not have three visible body parts but does have a head and a long body, it is probably a termite. Compare the body parts shown in the ant versus termite picture below. Another identifying characteristic that separates winged ants from winged termites is the antennae. All ants have antennae that have a fairly severe bend or "elbow" but termite antennae to not have this sharp bend. A termite's antennae are beaded, an ant's antennae have segments that sometimes end in small club. These differences are illustrated in theant/ termite image. The different sections of an ant's antennae are often important to those involved in inspection and treatment of homes and lawns for ant infestations. The number of sections, size of club (and even absence of a club) are all important factors in the identification of the invading ant pest.

3 The termite swarmer has four wings, as does the swarming ant. The difference lies in the length of the wings. When the wings of either flying insect are folded (in a resting position or when found dead) and appear to be two wings of the same or equal length. Closer inspection reveals the true evidence. When you gently spread out the wings you will find that there are now four wings, instead of two as noted in the termite and ant picture shown below. An ant swarmer and a termite swarmer both have 2 pairs or 2 sets of wings. The wings of a swarming termite are all the same length. The wings of a swarming ant are different. The front wings (those that are visible when the wings are not spread) are longer than the rear wings. When at rest, the front wings are folded over so that the rear set of wings are not visible. Ants Versus Termites Picture The three main points to consider are the number of main body parts, shape of antennae and length of wings. With this picture you can easily tell the difference between flying ants and flying termites or swarmers.

Winged Termites Found in Home If you have inspected the flying insect and determined that it is indeed a termite your next question is obviously "What do I do now?" We have many customers visit our showroom and store in Pensacola who bring bags or vials containing an insect that they want identified. They usually want to know if they haveants or termites. When we see that they are termites, we have a few questions that we put to our customers:

Where did you find the termites? Were they found inside of the home or on the exterior surface of the home? If found indoors, which rooms were involved? How many winged termites were found?

Termite swarmers found on the exterior surfaces of the home could have merely landed on the sides of the home as the wind blew them in the direction of the house. If this is the case, there is not too much to worry about. If, however, the swarmers were observed flying out of the structure from around windows, doors, garage doors, bay windows, porch columns or other wood members or openings then there might be some concerns.

4 It is not unusual for termites to land on a house. They (termite swarmers) are not the best of flyers but the winds can carry them quite a distance. (The Formosan Termite is an exception to this rule. The Formosan Termite is capable of better, more aggressive, sustained flight than other subterranean termites.) If the pests swarmed from a nearby tree limb, neighbor's home or any other such object, this does not always mean that your house is in danger. What you need to determine is if the termites swarmed to your house or from your house. Swarming from your house would indicate a possible termite infestation that should be taken care of as soon as possible. Swarmers that just landed on the exterior surface of your home mean just that - they happened to land on your home. When these insects land on your home you must remember that a termite swarmer cannot harm you. A termite swarmer is designed for propagation of the species, not to eat wood. The worker termite (the one that resembles a small, white ant) eats eat and does extensive damage to buildings. Once a female subterranean termite swarmer has successfully mated, she must burrow into the soil in a very short time period. Of the multitude of swarmers seen, only one in every thousand has a chance of being successful. Ants and other insects as well as reptiles, birds and even the elements all take their toll on the swarmers. If the mated female makes it past all of her natural enemies, she must also make it to the safety of the soil. If she lands in areas where she cannot make it to the protection of the soil, she will die. In short, if a termite swarmer lands on the exterior surface of your home it does not mean that you have a termite problem. Indoor Flying Termites Locating flying termites inside of your home is not the most reassuring sight. There are cases that look better than others. If only a couple of swarmers are found indoors, they could have easily hitch-hiked indoors on someone's shirt or sweater or they could have merely flown through an open door or window. These pests have even been found crawling through bathroom and kitchen vents. If large numbers of swarmers are found indoors, you need to have something done about it. One or two swarmers can be a coincidence but large numbers is definitely a sign that there is a colony in or underneath the structure. We have many frantic phone calls from customers that want to purchase an insecticide to kill the flying termites in their home. As noted above, this is not necessary since the swarmers do not feed on your home. They are a signal that there is a colony in or beneath the structure which means that the home needs to be inspected and possibly treated by a professional that is licensed for termite treatment. Swarming or flying termites often are seen near garage doors, other door or window frames (especially bay windows), columns supporting porches, dirt-filled porches and any expansion joints. An expansion joint is any area where two or more sections of a home are joined such as where a garage or patio is connected to a house. If possible, sweep up the indoor swarmers and save them for your pest control operator. The number of swarmers as well their their location can be valuable evidence needed by the technician who will inspect the structure. A thorough inspection will determine the severity of the problem and what (if any) treatments are necessary.

The Difference Between Ants and Termites

How to Compare a Termite with a Flying Ant

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When there are swarms of flying insects inside or outside of a home, it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between a swarm of flying ants and a swarm of termites. Telling the difference is extremely important, because ants are generally just a nuisance, whereas termites can cause extensive, extremely expensive damage to a home. Wingless Ants and Termites Few people would confuse a wingless worker ant with a wingless worker termite. A worker termite is soft-bodied, light in color, and rarely seen in the open. A worker ant is dark with a hard shell, and often seen inside the home and out. Sightings of the worker termite are uncommon because if exposed to our relatively dry atmosphere for even a short time, they will desiccate (dry out) and die. One sure way to confirm the presence of termites is the discovery of these maggot-like insects. I think they look like pieces of cooked white rice with legs. Winged Ants and Termites Its harder to tell the difference between ants and termites in their winged reproductive stage, otherwise known as swarmers or alates. In this stage, termites and ants look very similar to each other. Ant and termite swarmers both swarm in similar weather conditions and generally at the same time of year. They both have black bodies with wings. But beyond that, their physical differences can help you tell them apart. BODY Termite: A termite has two distinct body segments with a waistline closer to the head than the tail. Ant: An ant has three distinct body segments with two waistlines nearly equidistant from each other, like a snow man. WINGS Termite: Termite swarmer wings are almost cartoonishly long and narrow, extending a body length or more beyond the rear end or abdomen. The wings of termites also tend to lay back very straight, parallel with the body. Ants: Ant wings extend just slightly past the end of the body. Their wings also tend to lie at a slight angle to the body, pointing away from the body at the bottom. When Insects Swarm Witnessing a swarm, especially indoors, is a very dramatic event. Typically youll see an exodus of several hundred or sometimes thousands of winged insects in just a few minutes. Reproductives of both ants and termites generally swarm in the spring time, in order to perpetuate the species. They dont want the new nest to compete with the old colony for resources, so they usually depart on windy days that will help carry them far away. The bugs often swarm after a rainfall, when the soil is moist, which makes it easier for them to burrow down into the ground to start their new outpost. Dont let the sight of winged ants or termites worry you. Swarmers typically live less than 24 hours unless they successfully burrow into soil. Consider the event a red flag warning you that there is a bug colony nearby.

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If you believe you have ants, you can try putting out an ant bait like Terro at the site of the swarm. If you believe that you have termites or arent sure which insect has taken up residence, I suggest you consult with a trusted professional. Termite swarmers by themselves dont damage structures but their stealthy family members will feed on a structure indefinitely unless treated. How to Get Rid of Winged Ants and TermitesSome Quick Tips: Create one light source. Swarmers are naturally attracted to light so if you have one main light source an in an otherwise dark room, all of the insects should go to that area. Suck them up. If you have access to a vacuum with a hose attachment, simply suck up the insects. Blow them away. Use a blowing a fan to create a sort of wind wall to contain the insects. Block their way out. Try placing tape over the exit hole to prevent the swarmers escape. Note: If you believe you have an ant or termite infestation, it is very important to keep a few insect samples for your pest management professional to confirm which bug youve got. Just place them on a piece of tape, or in a jar or zip top bag. Having samples is critical for determining the right treatment. It could also mean the difference between paying several hundred dollars to treat for ants, or thousands of dollars more to treat for termites.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ANTS AND TERMITES ANT AND TERMITE SWARMERS

Do I have ants or termites ? This can be a very troublesome question. Some of the flying winged ants can resemble the winged-swarming termite.

The swarming of small, dark insects near or inside a building may worry people who believe their home is infested by termites. There is a difference between ant and termite reproductives(swarmers). Termites go through a gradual metamorphosis Termites go through the egg, nymph and adult stages. Nymphs look like adult workers. Reproductives are dark-bodied. Ants will go from a egg, to a larvae, then pupa and finally to the adult stage in what is called complete metamorphosis. The adult ant worker is an adult and looks like an adult ant.
Here are some ways do identify the difference between the physical resemblance.

Carpenter ant queen

Subterrearean Termite

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1. While both species have four wings, the termite wings are all the same size and the ant wings have noticeably larger wings in the front as compared to the hind pair. Ant reproductives (swarmers)have two pairs of wings.Often ants have a black dot near the tip of the front wings, and dark wing veins can be seen. You can't see termite wing veins with the naked eye. Ant wings do not break off easily. Termite wings break off easily, with just a touch. You may see the broken wings from the swarming termites in a area they have been crawling. 2. Termites have an almost straight antennae, the ants antennae are elbowed. 3. Termite wings are twice as long as the body. 4. Ants appear distinctly segmented, because of their thin-waisted appearance. Termites have a broad-waisted appearance.Termite waists are not narrow.Termite bodies are straight-sided with no constriction. CARPENTER ANTS:

Carpenter ants are black or brown and measure up to 1" in length. They are often confused with termites. Unlike termites they have pinched waists and elbowed antennae. Termites have straight bodies and antennae. As with termites, there is a winged version too. Carpenter ants can do significant structural damage, but are more a nuisance than a structural problem. Investigation: There are several ways to recognize a carpenter ant infestation: Swarmers: Winged form of the carpenter ant in a great number Sawdust: If you see sawdust(frass) raining from your ceiling or from any indoor cracks. If you see more than 10 ants a day in any room other than the kitchen. If you see ants in your home and the ground outside is frozen. Crunching Noise: If you hear munching, rustling or crunching noise coming from within a window sill, wall or ceiling. For further information on carpenter ants go to: Carpenter Ants

How to tell the difference between ant and termite alates

Entomologists refer to winged ants and termites as alates. The alate is simply the adult, sexually mature stage in the ant or termite life cycle. Alates develop in the colony from immature stages prior to the flight season. When the alates receive the proper cues (warm temperatures, bright sunlight, low winds, for example) they will leave the colony and fly away to start their own colonies. The exodus of alates from a colony, known as a dispersal or nuptial flight, is commonly referred to as swarming; so alates are often referred to as swarmers. Male and female termites shed their wings and will pair up when a suitable mate is found. Then they will search for a suitably damp piece of wood or soil where they will start their new colony. Swarming in ants is different. Male and female alates leave the nest and after the female is inseminated, the male dies. The newly fertilized female then searches for a suitable nesting site - the choice of where to nest depends on the species. When termites swarm they are often misidentified as "flying ants". This is a common mistake because termite alates look very much like ants. The pictures below illustrate this point:

Western subterranean termite, Reticulitermes hesperus, alates. One alate has shed it's wings; such an individual is called a dealate.

R. hesperus swarming from underneath concrete step.

However, there are three simple characteristics to look for that can be used to tell the difference between a winged ant and a winged termite:

Ant alate

Elbowed antennae

Fore wings larger than hind wings

Constricted waist

Termite alate

Beaded antennae

Fore and hind wings of equal size

Broad waist

Ant versus Termite antennae

Ant antennae are bent at an angle.

Termite antennae look like a string of beads.

Based on their identifying characteristics, which one is a termite and which one is an ant?