As temperatures begin to warm, ant and termite infestations are often discovered by Maryland, DC, and Virginia homeowners. The first obvious sign of a termite infestation is the swarm of insects that appear in or around the home. However, without proper knowledge, it is easy to confuse a flying ant with a termite swarmer. It’s important to know the difference because termite swarmers can signify an infestation that could be causing expensive structural damage to the home.
| Winged Termite Features | Flying Ant Features |
| Straight antennae | Bent antennae |
| Thick and straight waist | Pinched waist |
| 2 sets of wings of equal size | 2 sets of wings of different sizes |
| Wings appear white and stack on top of each other | Wings appear yellowish and transparent and don't stack on top of each other |
| Unlikely to find wingless termites in area | May find wingless ants in the area |
Whether you have ants with wings or flying termites in your house, it is understandable if you aren’t comfortable with letting them roam until a technician arrives. So be sure to take a variety of clear pictures of the pests up close, where you think the pests are coming from, any wings laying around, and the area that the swarming has occurred. Having termite pictures or flying ant pictures will help the technician to find the source of the problem and help to find a solution. Once you feel you have enough pictures for the technicians, try vacuuming the area to remove some of the unwanted mess until the pest control company is able to treat.
If you are unsure what pest you are dealing with and would like some assistance to ensure that your property is safe, give us a call at American Pest. Both carpenter ants and termites cause billions of dollars in property damage each year. So it is important to contact professionals about concerns of either pest. Our technicians have all been trained to be able to properly identify the difference between the two pests and know the best plan of action to control them. Whether it is an ant or a termite, it is important to gain control of the situation as it is likely a sign of a larger infestation.
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