Do you know the dangerous difference?

Most people are comfortable that they know what an ant is, but hardly anyone seems sure they know what makes a termite a termite. Termites are not ants and certainly not white ants.

If you see winged, ant-like insects flying around your property, you need to know whether they are ants or subterranean termites. Carefully compare the insects flying around your house to the illustrations below. If you're uncertain, call us for positive identification.

If the insects are termites, CALL US IMMEDIATELY!

 

Termites Vs Ants	Termite	Ant
Color	most termites are typically whitish, often almost clear--you can usually see the food in their gut, but the winged ones are usually much darker (as above)	many possible colours, usually black or dark red or brown
Shape	six-legged grub, fairly short legs	six-legged grub with narrow waist, legs longer.

Wings	if present, 4, twice as long as body, all roughly the same size and shape, deciduous.  If winged, the body is darker	if present, 4, about the same length as body, rear wings obviously smaller, wings retained.  Winged ants are typically about the same color.
	Worker Termite	Worker Ant
Head	no eyes unless winged form	usually obvious eyes
Antennae	like a string of pearls	definitely elbowed, with longer segments
Body	soft	harder, tougher

Swarming insects in the Spring may or may not be termites. Winged ants are often confused with winged termites. Ants have bent antennae, termites have straight. Ants have thin waists, termites have thick. Ants have front wings that are longer than their back, termite have both pairs the same size. Compare your insects with the images on the previous page.

If you see anything that looks like the pictures below you most definitely have termites!

Termite tubes going up a pier!

Again, if you’re uncertain please do not hesitate to call our office at 803-359-2774.