Flying Carpenter Ants vs Termites

One of the biggest misconceptions in the world of insects occurs when you’re having an issue with termites or flying carpenter ants. Since some ants have wings and others don’t, it even further complicates the matter. How can you tell if you have termites or winged carpenter ants, and are they both equally dangerous to your home? Understanding why some ants have wings will help you to recognize the difference.

First, it’s interesting to note that almost all ants can fly and develop wings at specific times during the year. Usually, during the spring months, which is also prime mating season, the winged ants will emerge to swarm. When ants develop their wings, they’re dubbed as swarming ants, which means they are looking to reproduce.

Both males and females can swarm, and they’re called the drone and queen. The goal is to ensure their colony survives long beyond their short lifespan,so they look for the right partner to mate and carry on their legacy. Let’s learn more about why some ants have wings.

Why Ants Have Wings: The Nuptial Flight

Mid-late Spring and early Summer is the most common time when flying carpenter ants take their flight. However, some species of ants will swarm at different times during the year, so the climate can help dictate swarming times. Scientists have called this the nuptial flight because they’re looking for nothing more than to mate.

If you are ever close enough to a colony to see this phenomenon, you would see “swarms” of flying carpenter ants leaving the nest and going out on the search for a mate. The colony oversees who goes on these nuptial flights, and they send out a significant amount of swarmers from their nest. This is why and when some carpenter ants have wings.

They know that the chances of swarmers who will live through the mating season and see the next generation are small. So, the more they send out, the better the chances of the colony living on. The main problem is that many of the swarming ants are eaten by predators.

Since ants are tiny and easy to digest for many birds and such, they’re considered a delicacy. Even the dragonfly will snack on an ant or two. Another portion of the swarmers will die because they cannot find adequate water to sustain life.

If the whole winged ant and termite thing wasn’t confusing enough for some, the only flying carpenter ants are those who have reproductive abilities. The ants that don’t have any winged members won’t swarm at all.

Who Is the Culprit: Flying Carpenter Ants or Termites?

Swarmers are not the ants you see crawling around your kitchen counter or on the sidewalk in front of your home. These ants never grow wings, and they often travel in packs in search of food. If you should see winged ants hovering around your windows or in another area of your home, then there simply looking for another place to make their colony.

So, If your home is where the swarmers choose to mate, the queen sheds those wings after the deed is done. She’s no longer interested in flying, so she removes the wings to start her new nest. The male, on the other hand, doesn’t fare so well.

Male ants have one duty in life, and that’s to mate. Once they’ve coupled with the queen, they die. So, if you see them hanging around the outside of your home, they shouldn’t be a cause for alarm, as they’re harmless. The exact period they live after mating varies, so they may hang around for a day or so. Clearing up the phenomenon on why some ants have wings while others do not helps homeowners understand how to best treat an ant issue.

Seeing flying ants at any time of year is a cause for alarm, especially in the colder months. When ants are swarming in December, it probably means that they’ve nested somewhere within the woodwork of your home.

Now don’t be alarmed because an occasional flying ant passing through doesn’t indicate an infestation. However, if you have any areas where water collects or there’s a leak, then you could find  flying carpenter ants or other ants nearby. But stay aware. Seeing them during the off time of the year can indicate a problem.

Now, you see something with wings swarming around your home, and you’re panicking because you automatically think the worst, termites. The potential for damage is excellent with both carpenter ants and termites. If you see either one swarming, it means they’re mating and extending their colonies, which can be devastating if they choose your floor joists or other wooded areas in your home to live.

Before you panic, you need understand that, yes termites can fly, but always remember that some ants have wings, too. To identify which pest has chosen your home as their mating ground, thankfully, there are some tips to help you uncover which insect is in your space. If you cannot identify between the two, you may need the trained eye of an exterminator. Sometimes, it can be a bit tricky to determine what’s swarming around your abode.

Carpenter Ant with Wings

Know the Signs: Winged Carpenter Ants or Termites

Unlike winged carpenter ants, which are often visible, termites are rarely seen. They like to hide and stay out of your way, which is why they’re often dubbed the Silent Destroyer. Many people who have termite issues have no clue what is going on until they uncover a wall or a porch that falls through.

One way that you can tell if termites are present is by simply tapping on the wood. Wood shouldn’t have a hollow sound so if you hear an echo from the board, it might mean it’s hollow. Then you have an issue. Rather than the bug itself, you will see discarded wings close to the area where they’ve nested.

To further complicate things, there are three types of termites you could be contending with:

• Subterranean
• Dry wood
• Damp wood

The damp wood varieties are drawn to moldy and decaying wood. At the same time, the dry wood species can munch on wood with no defects. Subterranean Termites live underground and travel back and forth to the wood source.

Termite with Wings

Physical Appearance

Termites do resemble flying carpenter ants, but certain aspects separate the two. For starters, the antenna of the termite is straight, and the ants’ are bent. The termite wings are equal in length, while the ant’s wings are not the same size.

Termite wings are on top of one another so at first glance you might think there’s only one wing. However, there are two on their body. One is just hiding. Their wings can be clear, brown, or black. Termites abdomens are straight, but winged carpenter ants have an abdomen that’s in sections or pinched.

Behavior Is Key

Carpenter ants and termites like to be in a large group. Both love decayed wood and debris to set up their colonies. Termites can wipe out a wooden structure in no time, primarily when they built a massive colony. As opposed to eating wood like termites, flying carpenter ants don’t eat the wood. But they can do major damage as they build their nests.