Difference Between Carpenter Ants & Termites in Sewell, NJ; Damage, Diet, Treatment & More

There isn’t a homeowner out there that want to have carpenter ants or termites inside the walls of their home, and for good reason. These destructive pests can wreak havoc on your home if they go undetected. It is important to know the difference between these two pests so that you can treat and get rid of them effectively. While sometimes these pests can be mistaken for one another, there are actually many differences between the two of them. Ross Environmental Solutions is here to compare the two so that you know what you’re up against if they make their way into your home.

Do Termites & Carpenter Ants Look the Same?

There are several differences in appearance when you have carpenter ants and termites sitting side by side. Both of these insects will send out swarmers to establish their colonies, but their wings look quite different. Ants will have two different sized pairs of wings while termites have two sets of wings that are the same size. Ants will also have segmented bodies and straight antennae. Termites will have a straight body and bent antennae.

What Do Carpenter Ants & Termites Feed On?

One of the biggest differences between termites and carpenter ants is their diet. When termites infest your home, they are going to actually be eating away at the structure of your home. Ants are going to leave their nest to go and find food they can bring back for the colony to eat. This is one of the reasons that termites are more destructive than carpenter ants. They are eating away your home.

Termite VS Carpenter Ant Damage

As mentioned above, termites will actually eat your home away while carpenter ants won’t. Carpenter ants hollow out wood to build their nest. As the colony grows, the destruction will grow with it. Termites, because the wood is their diet, will eat and eat and eat until your home is made of hollow wood. The damage caused by carpenter ants is much slower than the damage that is caused by termites.

What Kills Carpenter Ants & Termites?

The way that you deal with carpenter ants and termites is vastly different as well. Both of these pests have different pesticides that are used specific to controlling that insect. This is why you need to know what pest you’re dealing with before you can make the move to get rid of them. Professional pest control technicians are usually needed to identify both carpenter ants and termites. Once you know what kind of infestation you have, pest control can work to get rid of them.

Pest Inspection & Control

If you have signs of carpenter ants or termites in your home, it is important to act quickly to get rid of them. These infestations can grow quickly if they are left to their own devices. When you think you have a problem with termites or carpenter ants, you can call on Ross Environmental Solutions to make sure carpenter ants or termites are a distant dream for you. Call us today!