Termites vs Carpenter Ants: What’s the Difference?

Telling the difference between flying ants vs termites can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. You might actually be dealing with carpenter ants. The size, habits, and qualities of carpenter ants could lead to you calling a termite exterminator when an entirely different pest control protocol is necessary. Whether your property in Wisconsin has termites or carpenter ants, our exterminators at Batzner Pest Control will teach you how to identify them and prevent them on your own. Read on to learn!

Carpenter Ant vs Termite: How to Tell Them Apart

The first step to getting rid of the wood-boring insects in your home to discern which ones you’re dealing with. Here are some features to look for to tell apart termites vs flying ants:

• Bodies: Carpenter ants are larger than termites with a pinched “waist,” longer antennae, and forewings that are larger than their hindwings. With a broader body and even wings, termites have more consistent features.
• Visibility: Termites are very discreet about their infestations, but carpenter ants are more likely to be seen and leave evidence of their presence. When carpenter ants bore through wood, they leave wood shavings and discarded wings near their holes.
• Diet: Carpenter ants don’t eat the wood that they drill through, which is why you’ll see wood shavings near their nesting sites. Termites eat the cellulose within the wood, leaving infestation sites with a stripped, striated appearance.

Carpenter Ant Damage vs Termite Damage Signs

It is helpful to know the difference between carpenter ant damage and termite damage to quickly assess which pest you have on your property. Carpenter ants often find their way into buildings through decayed wood, working their way to sound wood. Finding a lot of ants near damaged wood outside your home or business is usually an indicator of a carpenter ant infestation.

Termite damage is usually prefaced by mud tubes popping up in the soil around your building. Once inside, termites eat away at the cellulose within sound wood, creating a thin, layered appearance. Carpenter ant damage looks more holey and cavernous than termite damage.

How to Get Rid of Wood-Destroying Insects

The best pest control is always proper prevention, which means keeping a tidy yard and keeping constant watch for insect infestations. However, if you’re already dealing with insects tearing through the wood in your home or business in Wisconsin, you can always reach out to the team at Batzner Pest Control. Our technicians can provide advice to help you find evidence of all kinds of destructive pests. Contact us today!