It’s easy to tell the difference between a termite and a carpenter ant if you get acquainted with some simple facts. While both types of pests are potentially harmful to wood in your home. However, they both do have clear differences. The only commonality between a termite and a carpenter ant is that these both are approximately of same size.
Moreover, both carpenter ants and termites love the idea of digging in wet wood, especially moist and rotten wood. If your home has wood siding or framing, you need protection against potentially damaging attacks by termites and carpenter ants. If you want to eliminate insects, it is best to contact Neoteric Chemicals and Solutions, the best Termite Control experts in Lahore.
One important thing to remember is that termites and ants find their mate in the spring. You will notice them gathering in swarms for brief moments when trying to raise their babies. However, you should consider your option to study the swarms more closely, so that you can identify whether the little annoying guests are actually termites or carpenter ants. Here are some distinguishing features about the physical appearance of carpenter ants and termites:
- Termites have no waist. Think of termites as quite formless creatures. Also, their antennas are straight. Termites have four identically long wings that are exactly the same size. On the other hand, carpenter ants have attractive waist and antennae that resemble bent elbows.
- Although carpenter ants have four wings, the wings are not identical in size. A carpenter ant has larger wings on the front of its body and smaller hind wings. If carpenter ants and termites ever do audition for being a model for a cat walk, it is sure shot that carpenter ants would get hired for the job because of their slender, sleek and finely shaped bodies.
Termites Like to Eat Wood
If you have books, magazines, bookshelves, wooden desks, or antique furniture in your home or condo, these are presented as free food for the humble termite. Unlike carpenter ants that don’t need to eat wood to survive, termites literally thrive on the cellulose found in wood. With no cellulose in their diet, a termite will quickly join its termite companions in a fictional location known as Termite Heaven.
On the other hand, carpenter ants love to shape their locales out of wood but flourish on protein and candy. If carpenter ants live in your home, don’t leave honey, cookies, cakes, or maple syrup exposed. Otherwise, you may wake up only to find you have a migraine headache when you see lots of carpenter ants eating the sweet items left on your kitchen counter.
Check For Wood Shavings
Wood shavings in or around your home mean that you probably have a carpenter ant or a termite infestation. Of course, another plausible answer is that you are married to an absent-minded spouse who enjoys working with wood but forgets to clean up the mess.
