Carpenter Ants vs Termites

It can be difficult to tell the difference between flying ants vs termites. When you have carpenter ants in your home, their size, habits, and features could trick you into calling a termite exterminator. Unfortunately, carpenter ants have their own habits and fancies, and must be taken care of with precise and professional methods. Whether you have a termite or carpenter ant problem, the pest control experts at Johnson Pest Control have the tools and expertise to shut it down and prevent any future damage to your home.

Carpenter Ant vs Termite Identification

The first step to controlling wood-boring pests is to be able to identify which ones you are dealing with. Here are some ways to tell apart flying ants vs termites:

1. Bodily features: Carpenter ants are slightly larger than termites. They have more pronounced features, including a thinner “waist,” larger antennae, and two differently-sized wings. Termites have a more consistent shape with smaller limbs and a set of evenly-sized wings.
2. Visibility: Termites can go undetected for years in your home, but carpenter ants are more likely to show themselves. They leave wood shavings around where they’ve been digging, and you’re more likely to find their discarded wings around your home.
3. Diet: This factor ties into carpenter ants’ diet. Carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood they bore through. They prefer to eat other insects, sometimes even termites. Since termites eat cellulose from wood, they don’t have to venture out of your house’s structure.

Carpenter Ant Damage vs Termite Damage

Further signs of carpenter ants vs termites can be seen in the damage they cause. Carpenter ants usually start off digging through already decayed wood, making their way to sound wood. In some cases, it can be hard to tell by the outside appearance that wood has been damaged by carpenter ants, but seeing lots of ants near a wooden structure is telling.

Termites, on the other hand, eat away at the cellulose inside the wood, creating a visible layered look. They find their way into your home through mud tubes that they construct in soil, linking them up with basement windows, doorways, siding, porches, or other structures. Experts estimate that termites cause a staggering $500 billion in damage each year.

How to Get Rid of Wood-Boring Pests

The best pest control is always proper prevention, including keeping a tidy yard and checking for cracks in walls, doorways, and foundation. However, when you realize that termites or carpenter ants have infiltrated your home, the most reliable solution is to call your local ant control company. The experts at Johnson Pest Control have years of experience dealing with Sevierville TN residents specific carpenter ant and termite problems. Contact us today for a free quote!