As the weather is warming up we are rapidly entering a fresh new season of insect activity. So many of these little creatures start popping up around this time of year and it’s always a good idea to be educated about as many of them as possible for identification and treatment options.
Two very important insects to know about and watch for this time of year are carpenter ants and termites. These two look very similar, act similar, and are equally destructive to homes. Being able to differentiate between them will help you get the right treatment as quickly as possible. How can you tell which is which? Let’s review some important facts about each of these pesky home invaders, and learn how to tell the difference.
What is a termite? Termites are a Wood Destroying Insect (WDI). They create colonies in soil with close and easy access to wood, the main food source. Because of this many homeowners find termites in foundations and woodwork frames. Termites need to be identified and treated as soon as possible because of their destructive nature to houses and buildings.
Termites have a straighter body with a broad waist and only two segments, have straight antennae, and are white or creamy white in color. All four wings on a termite are the same size, paddle shaped, and twice as long as their bodies.
Termites are cannibals. Yes, really. Termites will seek out their dead, drag them back to the colony, and eat them. The cannibalism factor of termites actually ends up being beneficial in controlling, or eliminating, a colony. After treatment of an infestation, the termites will consume the carcasses of the dead termites, and continue to pass the poison through the colony.
For such small insects, termites can eat a lot. According to Control Solutions, Inc., “Native subterranean termite colonies have an average of 200,000 workers. Formosan subterranean termites colonies can have an average of 500,000 workers”. That is a LOT of mouths to feed. Termites will forage through the soil for food randomly in all directions. Whenever termites encounter rocks or surfaces that are impenetrable, they form shelter tubes on the surface to protect themselves as they forage. These tubes are one way to recognize a termite infestation in your home.
Next we have carpenter ants. Carpenter ants are larger than other ants and are also categorized as WDI’s. Carpenter ants seek out damp wood within your home and feast. Much like termites, carpenter ants can make quick work of damaging your home’s foundation and structure, and therefore need to be identified and treated as quickly as possible.
Carpenter ants are black or red and black in color, can be up to ½ inch long, queens and males are larger than the workers and have wings (although the queens lose their wings when they begin nesting), have bent antennae, have a thin, narrow waist, with three distinct segments. The front pair of wings on carpenter ants are noticeably longer than the back pair, are pointed, and typically have a black dot on the tip of the front wings with highly visible, dark veins.
To identify if you have an infestation of carpenter ants, look for the following:
Winged “swarmers” appearing in great numbers, “frass” or a fine sawdust falling from the ceiling or left in piles around the house, the presence of more than 10 ants daily in rooms other than your kitchen, the presence of ants indoors during winter months when the ground outside is frozen, or hearing a faint humming, crunching, rustling coming from inside a wall, ceiling, or window sill.
An important point to remember is that termites and carpenter ants can enter your home through hidden cracks and crevices, and can cause serious damage to wood structures. Be on the lookout this time of year for signs of WDI infestation. Early discovery will help reduce the amount of damage done to your home. If you do find evidence of WDI activity, call Precision Pest Solutions at (937) 772-7758 for a quote or to set up an inspection.
References:
Patterson, Heather. “5 Fascinating and Useful Termite Facts”. Web Blog Post. CSI News. Control Solutions, Inc. 4 March, 2022.
Layton, Dr. Blake. “Termite Biology (eastern subterranean termites and Formosan termites)”. Web Blog Post. Department of Entomology, Mississippi State University. 22 March, 2022.