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Bugs that look like termites4/2/2023 It’s not just ants that are mistaken at times for termites. Acrobat ants are generally one-eighth of an inch in length, with the exception of the queen, which is up to three-eighths of an inch long. This light brown or black ant species makes its home in wood. Similar to the carpenter ant, they have a segmented body, unlike a termite. If you do see a swarmer inside, you may have an infestation on your hands.Īcrobat ants share many similarities with carpenter ants. We can sometimes find carpenter ants inside as they search for food, whereas we are unlikely to see termites indoors, since they live most of their lives underground. Also, termites do not have a defined waist, and have straight antennae. When termite wings detach, small stubs remain, whereas ants completely shed their wings. Unlike ants, termite wings are about the same length with many small veins. Swarmers, which are up to a half-inch in length, are most active during the early springtime. A winged carpenter ant, pictured above, resembles winged termites when you aren’t quite sure how to distinguish the two species. “Swarmers”-the name for reproductive termites-are the same color as carpenter ants, with two sets of wings. Subterranean termite workers, on the other hand, are wingless, sport a beige color and are smaller than carpenter ant workers, measuring between an eighth and a quarter of an inch. The carpenter ant has a defined “waist” with elbowed antennae. The front wings are longer than the hind wings and are not similar in shape, pattern or size. Reproductive ants have two sets of wings and can be up to three-quarters of an inch long. Among the ant species, the type which most closely resembles a termite is the carpenter ant.Ĭarpenter ant workers are wingless, between a quarter and a half inch long and are dark brown or black in color. These social insects excavate wood, although termites feed on wood, while ants tunnel into wood to make a home. The bug which is most commonly confused with a termite is an ant. Let’s explore what insects resemble termites and how to tell these bugs apart so that you can keep these pests away from your property. But when it comes to other insects, our knowledge is fuzzy, at best.ĭifferent pests require different types of treatment. Roaches, mosquitoes and flies look quite different from each other. Most of us can distinguish between the most common bugs and insects we see in and around our home. Homeowners can protect their biggest investment by learning more about bugs that look like termites but aren’t. The most destructive type of termite, the subterranean species, feeds 24 hours a day, so this dangerous pest doesn’t ever take a vacation. Sometimes it would just be easier to call a pest control company and get a positive identification from the start.According to the National Pest Management Association, termites cause more than five billion dollars worth of property damage each year in the United States alone. In this day and age anyone can look up a picture and misidentify a pest. Many times in the pest control industry the internet is both a help and a harm. The picture below is of a carpenter ant major worker. As for the minor workers they’re smaller and are typically the first ants in the brood. The major workers are large and well fed. In the carpenter ant world individuals are broken down into major and minor workers. In fact, carpenter ants come in all shapes and sizes just like people. The reason is that many people assume that carpenter ants are all robust looking ants. The carpenter ant in Ct is also commonly misidentified. Stone flies do no damage and will likely disappear on their own. Many homeowners call because the stone fly is truly one of those bugs that looks like an ant when in fact they are not. They are a boom to the ecosystem as they are a food source for frogs and fish. Their eggs are laid in the water where young stone flies spend the first portion of their life. The common stone fly is very long and slender. Below is what a common eastern subterranean termite with wings looks like. Termites have four wings all of equal length, which they lose when they swarm. The reason is that reproductive termites have wings, but so do all reproductive ants. Termites are probably the most misidentified pest of all. The most common mistaken identity comes with the following pests. The reason is that there are many insects that not only look like ants, but termites as well. Bugs that look like ants are a common complaint that we get at our office.
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