What Do Termites Look Like?
It’s important to be able to tell the difference between a termite and an ant. Particularly now, when we’ve had such a wet and humid monsoon season, and the ground is soft and easy to dig through…
Termites are loving this weather, and Arizona is seeing more termites this year than in years past. We’ve not only been getting more termite calls than any year in recent history, we’ve been hearing about other pest control companies seeing an influx of termite infestations as well.
Why are termites so active right now in Arizona? Because we’ve had such a wet and rainy monsoon season, which termites love. they might not love the downpour of rain, but they love the aftermath; moist and soft dirt, rotting wood and more cracks in your home and trim.
so, right now it’s crucial that you can tell the difference between an ant and a termite.
The Desert subterranean termite is one of the most common subterranean termites in Arizona.
It does somewhat resemble and ant, and thus can be confused for ants. You don’t want to make that mistake. It could cost you thousands in home damage.
Termite or Ant?
The easiest way to tell the difference between a termite and an ant is their body size and structure. Ants come in all colors, while termites are usually dark brown or black. Termites also have a long, straight abdomen while ants have sections to their body with shorter abdomens.
If you’re trying to tell the difference between a flying termite and a flying ant, the easiest way to tell the difference is by noticing the shape of their wings. Ants have shorter, fatter wings. Termites have longer, skinnier wings, almost like a small dragonfly.
If you’re still unsure whether you’re looking at a termite or ant, and you’ve got dozens of them, or hundreds of them, crawling around, don’t make the mistake of labeling them as the wrong thing. You absolutely need to call in an expert.
