Termite or Flying Ant? How to Tell in 60 Seconds
Finding winged insects inside your home is stressful, and the big question is whether you're looking at termites. Here's how to tell.
Check three things
- Waist: Ants are pinched in the middle like an hourglass. Termites have a thick, straight body with no waist.
- Antennae: Ants have bent, elbowed antennae. Termites have straight ones.
- Wings: Ants have two pairs of wings of different sizes. Termites have two pairs of equal length, usually longer than the body.
More clues
Termites drop their wings after swarming, so small piles of identical wings near windows or doors are a red flag. Swarming insects indoors are a stronger warning sign than ones seen outside.
What to do
- Don't spray. Killing the swarmers doesn't touch the colony.
- Catch a few in a jar or on clear tape, and take a photo.
- Look for mud tubes on foundation walls and wood that sounds hollow when tapped.
- If it could be termites, call a licensed pro for an inspection. Carpenter ants also damage wood, so they're worth checking too.