Both termites and ants are able to swarm and may have wings during part of their lives. Since these insects are close to the same size, people often misidentify flying ants as termites. Because flying ants do not attack wooden structures like termites, it is helpful to be able to tell the difference.
Fortunately, there are several differences that can easily distinguish between the two. For example, ants have a thin waist; the waist of a termite is thick. Also, ants’ antennae are elbowed, while termites’ are straight. Thirdly, termites have two pairs of wings that are of equal length. Ants also have two pairs of wings, but theirs are of unequal length. Homeowners who find signs of termite activity should shop for a reputable pest control firm.
Old Mill Nursery 
August 18, 2009 at 9:56 pm |
Another tell-tale sign is termite swarmers will often drop their wings. Save the wings for your pest control tech. A good tech can tell the difference just by looking at the wings.