Ants Vs Termites

Ants vs termites: what's the difference? Many people mix up ants and termites, and it's important to know the difference. Ants vs termites is the difference between a potential infestation and a few bugs. You should learn to tell the difference between the two so you can spot an infestation in your home.

If you do believe that you have a pest problem, you should call for a professional inspection to confirm your suspicion. Find out whether the colony is alive or dead and how to treat it with proper termite control methods. A home inspection doesn't cost too much, whereas the service to eliminate the pests is quite costly.

Ant or Termite?

If you see a winged bug in your home, you may immediately wonder whether it's a termite. Or an ant. They look very similar. However, there are some tell-tale signs that will help you determine the difference between ants vs termites.

One way to tell is the body. A termite has a cigar shaped body, with a thick waste. An ant has a slender waist, and a three-part body with curves. An ant with wings has the same body as the ants you see on ant hills, whereas the termite is quite different looking.

The wings will also help you determine whether you're dealing with ants vs termites. Ants have a big pair of wings and a second, smaller pair of wings. Termites have two wings that are the same size. Ants also have clearer veins in their wings.

Another difference is that an ant has elbowed antennae, whereas a termite has beaded antennae. The elbowed antennae are long and bent, whereas the other are short and slightly curled.

You may also be able to tell whether they are ants vs termites by considering their behavior. Ants don't swarm in the same way as termites do. If you have a swarm of insects, they're most likely "swarmers." Swarmers are termites. They have exited the colony and they are mating to build a new colony.

If you see a swarm of winged termites in your home, you most likely have a serious problem. Swarming usually happens after a colony is well established. It usually means you've had them in your home for years and years.

The ants vs termites problem is a common one. If you can't tell whether they're ants vs termites based on their body or wings, you can probably tell based on other damage. If it's ants vs termites, there most likely won't be signs of termite damage elsewhere in the home.

Termite Damage

One sign of a termite infestation is the presence of and actual termite. However, there are many other factors that can help you indicate termite damage. For example, you may see mud tunnels in your walls.

These tunnels, or tubes, are full of soil, chewed wood and feces. A termite tunnel is not as clean as an ant tunnel! Ants are much neater. In any case, you may see these tunnels in your wall.

Or, it may look like water damage. You might also have a sagging floor or ceiling. A termite colony can actually destroy the structure of your home if they have enough time. If your wall sounds "hollow" it may need to be inspected for termite damage.

Termite Solution

If you find out you have a termite problem, you should get professional help. A termite infestation is not something you can deal with on your own! If it's a very small problem, in your shed, say, you might be able to fix it. However, it's safer to call professionals.

The chemicals that are used to treat a termite infestation are quite dangerous. You might want to consider non toxic sprays or alternative methods. A traditional method, called a soil barrier, involves putting chemicals in the ground to block the termites. It's not great for the environment, as you might imagine.

Sadly, a termite colony is actually good for the ground. They replenish the nutrients in the soil. Of course, they are very bad for the wood of your home! They can also eat through plaster and other materials.

In any case, there are more environmentally friendly options if you're concerned. One option is called baiting. Baiting is labor intensive and takes a long time. It requires placing baits and continual monitoring after that. The termite colony has to find the bait and bring it back to their queen, and it may take over a year for the whole colony to die.

Still, baiting is very effective, and better for the environment. First things first, though: figure out whether you have ants vs termites. Then, get a number of quotes for barrier and baiting methods. You don't need to rush: it takes a long time for a termite colony to advance.