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Carpenter ants and termites can look quite similar to one another. They are also both attracted to moisture and can do serious damage to your home. It’s important to understand the difference between these two critters so that you can properly get rid of them. Here are some of the differences between these insects.

Physical Differences

If you have a closer look at the insects in your home, you will be able to tell if they’re carpenter ants or termites. Here are some things to look for:

  • Body Shape: When inspecting an insect’s body shape, pay attention to the stomach area. Ants have defined waists while termites are more rectangular-shaped. 

  • carpenter antsColor: Termites and carpenter ants aren’t the same colors. Ants are red or dark-colored while termites are transparent or cream-colored.

  • Wings: While both ants and termites have four wings, they don’t look exactly the same. Termites have wings that are equal in size and much longer than their bodies. Ants have front wings that are longer than their back wings, but they’re in proportion with their bodies.

Behavioral Differences

It’s also possible to tell the difference between carpenter ants and termites by the way they act. For example, termites eat the wood they nest in while ants only dig into the wood to make room for their nests. If you notice small piles of wood shavings underneath the holes, you have ants on your hands.

Additionally, notice how the wood tunnels look. Ants build very smooth tunnels while termites leave behind rough and ragged tunnels.

 

If you have carpenter ants or termites in your home, turn to the professionals at Select Pest Control. These pest control experts have served the Greater Cincinnati area for more than 30 years and have a reputation for quality extermination services. They can get rid of everything from ants and bedbugs to rodents, and they adhere to the highest standards in the industry. For more information about their services, call (513) 352-0080 or visit their website.

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