Distinguishing a termite infestation from an ant infestation
Both ant and termite swarms can cause extensive damage to your home. Carpenter ants and termites feed on wood and can damage your home's foundation as well as wooden furniture. Ants and termites operate in much the same way, and it can be challenging to tell the difference between their infestations.
However, there are some distinctions in how these pests operate. They consume wood differently and also swarm in distinct ways. Here are some differences in how they operate so you can know the specific problem your home is facing and decide whether you need ant or termite treatments.
Differences in appearance
You can begin to distinguish a termite from an ant infestation by physically inspecting the insects. At first glance, both wood ants and termites may appear similar. However, there are slight differences in their wings, antenna and body structure. Ants have a clearly segmented body, with a very thin waist and wider abdomen. Termites tend to have a more uniform body structure with no distinct bends or curves.
Ants also have two pairs of wings, with the front pair being distinctively larger than the second pair. Termite wings are of similar size across the whole body.
During the reproductive stage, winged termites tend to swarm in groups in order to establish a new colony away from the one currently present. They may eventually shed their wings as they continue to develop. In addition, termites have antennae that are mostly straight with no distinct bends, while ants have clearly bent antennae.
Swarming differences
There are also differences in how ants and termites form their colonies. As previously mentioned, termite swarms tend to occur once a colony grows in number and members look to establish a new colony elsewhere. You may observe swarms of termites near light sources such as outdoor porch lights and on windows.
Ants tend to hide mostly in cracked walls, holes within furniture, or near openings on floors and walls. You will typically observe piles of dirt and dust near these areas when you have an ant infestation.
Feeding and wood damage
Termites mostly feed through building mud tubes that extend from outside the home and into your furniture. These mud tubes consist of dirt and faeces that they build in order to remain hydrated. When they consume wood, they leave hollow structures within the item and plenty of dirt and debris.
Carpenter ants mostly consume wood by leaving behind fine particles of sawdust and wood shavings. You can often spot these piles of sawdust near the base of your wooden items.
When you notice an ant or termite infestation, it is important to contact a pest control company in order to develop a plan for getting rid of these pests from your home.
