The glory of the spring season comes with warm weather, blooms blooming, flying ants, and swarming insects. The most common types of swarming insects are flying ants and termites.
So, what is the main difference between termites and flying ants? Termites have straight antennae and a wide waist whereas flying ants have bent antennae and a pinched waist.
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Comparison Table between Flying Ants and Flying Termites
| Basic Terms | Flying Ants | Flying Termites |
| Description | Have bent antennae | Have straight antennae |
| Body Shape | Have pinched waist | Have a wide waist |
| Body Color | Typically black, brown or reddish | Either black or dark brown |
| Wing Length | Unequal length wing | Equal length wing |
| Diet | Omnivorous | Herbivorous since they feed on cellulose found in plants |
| Life Cycle | Go through four stages of development such as egg, larva, pupa, and adult | Go through three stages of development such as egg, nymph, and adult |
| Length of the body | Comparatively shorter | Relatively longer |
| Destruction | Less harmless | Cause huge damage |
| Number of Wings | Two pairs of wings | One pair of wings |
| Color of the Wings | Yellowish | White |
What Are Flying Ants?
These are winged swarmer with bent antennae and a pinched waist. The flying ants’ front wings are longer than the hind wings.
The body color of these ants is black, brown, or reddish. They are divided into workers and queens. The queens tend to live longer than the workers.
The main source of food for ants are nectar, seeds, food debris around the home, and other insects. They are regarded to be omnivorous in nature.
They are found in damp, wet, and rotting wood. But some ants tend to live even in dry woods. If you notice ants flying around the wood then this is a clear indication of an infestation.
What Are Termites?
These are swarmer that has straight antennae and a broad waist. They have one pair of wings that are quite uniform.
They are divided into workers and queens. The workers tend to be creamy and wingless whereas queens are dark brown with wings.
The queens are responsible for reproduction and they tend to live for decades. On the other hand, workers have a short lifespan.
The main source of food is wood, paper, and cellulose products of plants. They are regarded as herbivorous since they eat plant products.
The appearance of these termites around your property is a clear indication of impending damage.
Main Difference between Flying Ants and Termites In Point Form
- Flying ants have bent antennae whereas termites have straight antennae
- Flying ants have pinched waist whereas termites have a wider waist
- Flying termites have uniform pair of wings while flying ants have unequal flying wings
- Flying ants go through four stages of development whereas termites go through three stages of development
- The flying ants are omnivorous whereas termites are herbivorous
- Termites are typically black or dark brown while flying ants are black, brown or reddish
- Flying ants have two pairs of wings whereas termites have one pair of wings
Similarities between Flying Ants and Termites
- Both appear during the spring season
- Both workers have a short lifespan
- Both queens have a long lifespan
- Both are destructive
- Both belong to Insects
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Are Flying Ants Dangerous?
Not really. However, flying ants have a tendency to chew wood. The good news is that they do not bite and they are not poisonous.
- How to Get Rid of Flying Ants?
Use a vacuum to suck the insects from the wood tunnel and replace it immediately. Use an insecticide made from a soap dish and peppermint oil then spray the ants.
- What Causes Flying Ants in Your House?
Flying ants appear in the house due to bright light or attraction to sweet foodstuffs. The presence of flying ants is an indication of an ant mating season. They also love damp or rotting woods.
- Do Flying Ants Eat Wood?
Flying ants do not eat wood but they chew a tunnel through the wood. The presence of sawdust around the house is an indication of flying ants’ infestation.
- Can You Treat for Termites Yourself?
Yes by use of orange oil. Orange oil is a widely known DIY termite treatment that claims to break down the exoskeletons of Dry wood termites and destroy their eggs.
- What Does a Termite Look Like?
Termites have straight antennae and discarded wings around window sills. They are mainly present during the spring season.
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Comparison Video
Summary
The core difference between flying ants and flying termites is that flying ants have a thin waist while flying termites have a thick waist. These insects are quite destructive in nature. They are supposed to be gotten rid of immediately.
More Sources and References
- Flying Ants and Termites. American Pests
- Ants and Termites. Family Handyman