Telling the Difference Between Winged Ants and Termites
No homeowner wants to find flying or crawling insects inside their home. Many people see these critters as termites, but it is possible that they are actually winged ants. Many varieties of winged ants enjoy coming inside the home, and at first glance most people see them as termites because they have a similar shape, appearance and size. So, what are some ways to tell the difference between the two? The tips below will help you determine which insect you have and help you keep from getting bugged out.
First Tip:
According to University of Florida scientists, you will find three main differences in termites and flying ants that are visible with the naked eye. The differences will require you to get up close and personal with the winged insect so you can tell if the insect has forewings that are larger than the hind wings, if its antennae are bent at a 90 % angle, and if it has a waist that is constricted and resembles an hourglass. If so, you have a winged ant, but if the insect has two sets of wings that are equal in size, antennae that stick straight up from its head and a wait that is straight with no waistline, you have a termite.
Second Tip:
A not-so-reliable way to determine the kind of insect in your home is noticing where they are hanging out in your house, and what time of year or the weather you are having. You will see termites more in the spring when it is warm and especially after it rains; they love to devour wood, and can be seen in groups of hundreds near windows where they drop their wings. Winged ants come in year-round, love to eat sweets and proteins, and if already inside can be seen scouting out a new place to build a colony nest. Even though these are not definitive methods, they will help to calm you down until you can get a professional opinion.
Third Tip:
Naturally, the internet is a great resource of finding out what kind of insects you have. The internet not only offers information, it also offers pictures for you to compare with. This way is useful when you make your insect discovery late at night, or on a holiday weekend to calm you down and give you information until you can contact a pest control professional for a definitive answer.
Fourth Tip:
Your smartest approach to the problem is to make contact with your local pest control professional as soon as possible. You even have the option of using your smartphone to send a photo by visiting a website and uploading the bug photo, then in a short time they will be in contact with you. You can also schedule an appointment for them to come out and investigate the issue, make a recommendation to you what they think is best to eradicate the problem
First Tip:
According to University of Florida scientists, you will find three main differences in termites and flying ants that are visible with the naked eye. The differences will require you to get up close and personal with the winged insect so you can tell if the insect has forewings that are larger than the hind wings, if its antennae are bent at a 90 % angle, and if it has a waist that is constricted and resembles an hourglass. If so, you have a winged ant, but if the insect has two sets of wings that are equal in size, antennae that stick straight up from its head and a wait that is straight with no waistline, you have a termite.
Second Tip:
A not-so-reliable way to determine the kind of insect in your home is noticing where they are hanging out in your house, and what time of year or the weather you are having. You will see termites more in the spring when it is warm and especially after it rains; they love to devour wood, and can be seen in groups of hundreds near windows where they drop their wings. Winged ants come in year-round, love to eat sweets and proteins, and if already inside can be seen scouting out a new place to build a colony nest. Even though these are not definitive methods, they will help to calm you down until you can get a professional opinion.
Third Tip:
Naturally, the internet is a great resource of finding out what kind of insects you have. The internet not only offers information, it also offers pictures for you to compare with. This way is useful when you make your insect discovery late at night, or on a holiday weekend to calm you down and give you information until you can contact a pest control professional for a definitive answer.
Fourth Tip:
Your smartest approach to the problem is to make contact with your local pest control professional as soon as possible. You even have the option of using your smartphone to send a photo by visiting a website and uploading the bug photo, then in a short time they will be in contact with you. You can also schedule an appointment for them to come out and investigate the issue, make a recommendation to you what they think is best to eradicate the problem
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