You know you’ve got a problem—something’s invading the wooden structures of your home. You’ve seen the warning signs, suspect some damage, or perhaps you’ve even caught a critter or two out and about. But how do you get rid of these unwanted guests? And what are they?
First things first; you need to know just what is chewing up the floorboards. This blog can help you easily find your answer. We’ll cover the differences between termite and carpenter ant behavior, biology, and damage so you know what has set up shop in your home.
Wait, are Carpenter Ants and Termites the Same Thing?
Some folks think of these pesky insects as interchangeable. After all, they both damage wood, fly, and every single one is some variation of black and brown. However, these two genera are actually very distinct from one another, and they require different eradication methods. Guess wrong and your intervention can fail, giving these objectionable roommates more time to wreak havoc.
How to Tell the Difference Between Carpenter Ants and Termites
When it comes to carpenter ants vs. termites, there are a few different ways you can distinguish between them. Depending on the evidence available, you can compare their:
- Behavior
- Biology
- Signs of Damage
Let’s start by looking at how their behavior differs.
Behavior of Termites vs. Ants
While both carpenter ants and termites are attracted to moist wood, they want it for different reasons. Termites are looking for food sources. They eat the wood as they burrow into it, and consequently they don’t leave sawdust piles behind. Instead, their trace evidence comes in the form of mud tubes on your walls or foundations.
On the other hand, carpenter ants create their nests in soft wood. They do not eat it, instead they push the wood shavings out to create frass piles. So, if you see what looks like little piles of sawdust on floors or counters, that’s evidence of ants.
Biology of Termites vs. Ants
If you’re fortunate enough to capture one of your intruders, you can use their physical differences to help with identification. While a termite’s size compared to ants is similar, and their colors both tend to be black and brown, their anatomy is otherwise pretty distinctive.
- Look at their mid-section or ‘waist’. Carpenter ants have waists that pinch in very sharply, while termite waists are much broader and less defined.
- Look for wings. Only the adults of each insect will have wings, but when they do it makes them easy to tell apart. Carpenter ants have a larger pair of forewings and a smaller pair of hind wings, while both pairs of termite wings are identical.
- Look at their antennae. Carpenter ants have a distinct bend or ‘elbow’ shape in their antennae, while termite antennae are straight.
Carpenter Ant Damage vs. Termite Damage
Different Strategies for Different Pests
Only once you know your enemy can you dispatch them correctly. For carpenter ants, blocking their entrances and removing the conditions that attracted them in the first place may be enough to end the problem. However, termites often require far more intensive intervention. In both cases, professional exterminators are your best bet for identifying your problem and getting rid of it, ASAP. Schedule a service visit from Plunkett’s today! Whether it’s ants or termites, we’ve got the tools and the experience to get rid of them, once and for all.
