There are approximately 91,000 species of insects in the United States alone. In the world, there are about 10 quintillion individual insects at any one time. With massive numbers such as these, it is no surprise that at times it can be hard to tell insects apart from each other. Two very important insects which can have great impacts on a home are termites and ants. Mistaking these insects for one another can cause unwanted consequences for your home.

Swarming termites and flying ants are commonly mistaken for one and the same, with most people mistaking a wingless termite for an ant. However, there are three distinct characteristics from which to differentiate the two insects.

Insect Antennae

Ants have "elbowed" antennae, which are bent at an angle.

Termites have beaded antennae, similar to a string of beads or small bubbles.

Insect Wings

Ants have larger fore wings than their hind wings.

Termites have both their fore and hind wings of equal size.

Insect Waist

Ants have a thin and narrow waist.

Termites have a broad waist.

Besides these three tell-tale signs, you can tell which insect is which by inspecting the body - the ant has three distinct body parts which include the head, abdomen, and thorax. The ant's body is separated into two body parts while the termites have just a head and one continuous body.

After Insect Identification

If you have determined that the flying insect in your home is a termite, there could be a variety of causes to think about before you take any action. A few swarmers found indoors could just mean that the termites came in through the home on someone's skin or shirt or simply flown through an open door or window. Termites can even be found crawling through bathroom and kitchen vents. However, if you find a large number of termites, it may be an indication of a colony in or underneath the home's structure. In these cases, the home needs to be inspected and possibly treated by a pest control operator. A professional and thorough termite inspection will determine how serious the termite problem is and if any treatments are necessary.

Swarmers that land on the exterior of your home are usually not a cause for concern as it means that they simply landed somewhere. Termite swarmers cannot harm the home, as they do not eat wood. The worker termite on the other hand, does consume wood and can cause great damage to a home or building.

Ants and termites are incredibly important pests that can invade your home at any time. It is important to not only be able to identify which type of insect is in your home, but what appropriate actions to take to get the pests out of your home or even how to treat an existing infestation. When not identified or controlled immediately, there could be dire consequences for your home and family. If you cannot identify an insect in your home, please call a professional pest control expert.