How to Tell if You Have Carpenter Ants or Termites?

The average homeowner who suddenly discovers evidenced of winged pests in their home has absolutely no idea whether they are Carpenter Ants or highly destructive termites. At first glance, these two annoying visitors look much alike but it can be important to learn to tell the difference, because the appearance of winged termites may very well signal a home infestation that must be dealt with immediately.

Carpenter ants are large dark brown or black insects measuring from one quarter to one half inch long and are often blamed for destroying wood. Actually, they aren't much more than a nuisance and usually avoid good wood altogether. They have been known to feast on wood that is already rotted or occasionally on soft household insulation board. These ants pose little threat to household construction materials but would certainly enjoy dining on sugar, candy or starchy materials like pasta or dry cereal. They also like to eat meat products and fats.

Termites are smaller than Carpenter ants but require wood for food and must have moisture to survive. Their workers, the ones that dine on household construction wood, are small, white creatures that are present in large numbers but rarely seen by people. They have a nest in the soil under a home or in proximity to it outside. The nest may be as deep as twenty feet and may contain as many as 1,000,000 insects. They have been known to hollow out the entire interior of large boards like 4 X 4's with absolutely no evidence of their presence when viewed from outside. A sure sign of their presence is in the form of mud tubes about the size of a pencil along walls, baseboards or beams. Termites use these to travel from meal to meal without coming into view. When the termite 'reproductive', those winged family members fly, they tend to flutter since they are not designed for long flights to start a new colony. Carpenter ants, on the other hand, are strong fliers capable of going much further than termites before they lose their wings.

Telling them apart isn't easy

It's difficult for a non-professional to tell flying ants from swarming termites. The ants have elbow-shaped antennae while the termites have pretty straight, beaded antennae. The wings are different as well. They both have two sets for a total of four wings. The ant's wings closest to his head are much larger than the pair behind them while termites have four wings that are about the same length. Checking the wings up close should enable you to tell which bug is which. In the event that you can't, and numerous winged insects have been found inside your house, it will be advisable to refer them to an exterminator for inspection.

Carpenter ants and termites have different diets

Adult Carpenter ants, winged 'reproductive' and workers never eat solid food. They do ingest liquids, which are then stored in their crop. And while Carpenter ants don't eat wood, they will tunnel through it. This, however, does little to harm the wood's structural strength since the tunnel is very small compared to the diameter of the wood. Evidence that ants have been tunneling in your house is scant to none, but, on occasion, they will leave behind a little sawdust-like material that you may see.

Termites feed on nothing but wood and wood products because they're really after the cellulose content. This is one reason why you should never leave stacks of newspaper, old magazines, cardboard boxes or any other materials composed of cellulose or plant fibers in basements, attics or crawl spaces where termites like to congregate.

When outside, Carpenter ants help dead trees and other woods to decompose by using them as place to nest. Their diet is composed of dead insects, the honeydew that comes from plant Aphids and some tiny invertebrates. When they find their way indoors, they add to their limited diets with any fats, sugars or meat products they can find. On occasion, they will set-up a colony in a house between walls or in other open but hidden spaces. However, they will no eat your wooden beams so getting rid of them is just a matter of doing away with a nuisance you can well do without. Termites, on the other hand, are definitely the enemy and must be dealt with by a professional extermination service as quickly as possible.

So, the bottom line is simple. Check those wings and try to identify what's really bugging you. If you can't, consult a professional to do it for you. And don't forget, if you own a home in an area where termite infestations regularly occur, opt for the annual inspection. It's well worth the cost in the long run.

About Author:

Craig Elliott is a freelance writer who writes about Pest Control & Termite Services