People find it difficult to make a distinction between termites and ants, especially once swarmer’s appear. “Swarmer’s” are reproductive termites or carpenter ant males. To the untrained eye, these two different insects look identical. There are a few ways to identify the termite from the ant.
Carpenter ants have a wasp looking “waist” separating their thorax and abdomen while termites have no “waist.” The antennae on a carpenter ant has an elbow bend, while termites have no bend in their antennae. Additionally, termite swarmers tend to leave behind a pile of their wings in bunches, while ants will leave a mixture of chewed wood, ant body parts and other debris.
One helpful clue in identifying which pest you’re dealing with is understanding the lifespan of an ant, especially since certain ant swarmers only appear after a colony has matured for several years.
The presence of swarmers indicates that there is a well-developed existing colony nearby, most likely, in the structure. The colony typically has been in existence for 3-5 years if you are seeing swarmers. Around 8-10 years the swarm sizes increase. However weather and the health of a colony can affect swarm size, and swarmers from multiple colonies can emerge at once. Both insects create structural damage (termites much quicker than ants), which can be a problem if there has been water damage in the home.
Many homeowners seeing swarmer activity begin to wonder how long do ants live, especially when trying to assess whether an infestation is new or well-established. Connecticut has many homes that are older and made of wood that attract wood destroying insects, which makes carpenter ant and termite infestations in Connecticut a major headache for many home owners.
Contact Richland Pest and Bee Control today for termite extermination, ants pest control and other pests in Connecticut.
Source: PCT magazine, “what do termite swarmers tell you” by, industry consultants and co-owners of pinto and associates
Richland Pest & Bee Control is a family-owned pest management company serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts for over 40 years. Known for their expertise and 5-star customer service, they offer reliable solutions for stinging insects, rodents, and other pests, ensuring homes and businesses stay pest-free.