Is It an Ant or a Termite?

In the early spring, when the weather turns warm and rainy, termites emerge from their nests in a process called swarming. Though they’ll later shed their wings, at the time of swarming, they each have a set of wings. This means that, for a short time – and during the time you’ll most likely notice them entering your house – termites look a lot like flying ants.

It’s important to know if you’re dealing with ants or termites in your home, as the troubles they cause and the methods to eliminate them are different. So, how can you tell the difference between swarming termites and flying ants?

Remember, both animals have wings at this point, so the main differentiator is their body shape. Termites have a straight body, like the shape of a narrow tube below a small head. Their short antennae point up straight from their heads.

Ants, on the other hand, have curved, three-part bodies, with a separate head, small thorax (middle section where legs attach), and bulging abdomen. Their antennae are bent and are quite long.

If you can see the wings clearly, a termite’s two sets of wings are the same size, while an ant’s upper wings are longer and larger than their lower wings.

If you still have trouble distinguishing between ants and termites, you can take a quick photo and post it to our Facebook page. We’re happy to help with the identification – and elimination – of either kind of pest.