At first glance, it seems easy to confuse a variety of insects for termites. However, further investigation and additional research will show how drastically different these insects are from one another in terms of appearance, habits, habitats, and other factors.
You can be wasting money on incorrect pest control if you mistake a termite or its harm indicators. Or there is another significant issue you are overlooking in your house. If you are unsure whether your house is infested by termites or not, contact termite exterminators for help.
How to differentiate and identify termites from other insects
The first thing to remember is that you must gather the sample as soon as possible because most swarms only last a few hours or so before disappearing completely. Breaking or crushing samples is not recommended since this might interfere with the identification procedure. A sample of two to three insects should be gathered to ensure that the identification can be confirmed. Samples should be put in a sandwich bag or other transparent, sealed container.
After the sample is collected, there are multiple ways to get identification.
In this situation, it is definitely possible to identify yourself. A magnifying glass never hurts, but there are a few distinctive characteristics that set termite and ant swarmers apart from each other. There are a few things to take into account in order to differentiate between a termite and an ant if you decide to do the identification yourself.
Differentiating between termites and ants
An ant swarmer and a termite swarmer can mostly be identified by their “waistline.”
- Ants’ bodies are highly segmented, making it easy to differentiate between one body segment and the next. On the other hand, termites are often described as having a “rice” form. There is no visible waist between the two parts of their thorax and abdomen.
- Their wings are another way that termites and ants differentiate themselves from one another. Each of the termites’ four wings is identical in length and size.
- Ants do have four wings, too, but they are longer in the front than in the back.
Lastly, the antennae of ants and termites are the other noticeable distinctions. Termites have straight antennae, but those of ants are curved or elbowed.
Other bugs that look same like termites
- Carpenter ants
Considering their similar size and appearance, winged ants—especially Carpenter Ants—and termites often get misidentified. Carpenters and termites have colors ranging from dark brown to black. They range in size from 0.25 to 0.5 inches.
They both have a pair of wings as well. However, the front wings of Carpenter Ants are longer than the back wings. Not all Carpenter Ants have wings, just like termites do.
- Carpenter bees
The way termites and carpenter bees infest wood buildings and construct burrows for their colonies is a common feature. Termites live in colonies, whereas Carpenter Bees are solitary in their housing arrangements.
While differentiating between termites and carpenter bees is challenging, it gets easier up close. A Carpenter Bee’s body is glossy, and it has a yellow patch that has green, blue, and brown tones to it.
- Powderpost beetles
Powderpost beetles are wood-eating insects that resemble termites, and they may severely damage property. As their name suggests, these insects consume wood and then leave behind powder or granules.
- Flying ants
When the mating season rolls along in the warmer months, adult flying ants develop wings that enable them to exit the nest. These vermin can enter your house and contaminate your food. Termites are unlikely to touch your food in the meantime.
Unlike termites, flying ants have distinctively shaped wings. Their bodies are thin, and they have two curled antennas. Termites and flying ants are similar in appearance, yet they are also swarmers.
- Acrobat ants
Because acrobat ants usually live inside of wood and walls, they are mistaken for termites. They are the smallest kind of ants, usually measuring between two and three millimeters. Its thorax is thin, and its abdomen mimics a heart. They have six legs attached to flat portions of their body.
