How Do You Tell the Difference Between Carpenter Ant & Termite Damage in Mantua Township, NJ?

There are a few pests that homeowners shudder to think could be in their homes. Carpenter ants and termites have to be at the top of that list. These two pests can cause extensive damage to your home if they go unnoticed for too long. The damage from these pests usually happens to your home’s structure. Because the damage can be somewhat similar and the pests look a lot alike, these often get confused for one another. Ross Environmental Solutions is here to talk about the distinct differences between them though.

Physical Differences Between Carpenter Ants & Termites

If you happen to get a close look at a flying carpenter ant and a flying termite side by side, you might recognize some distinct differences between the two.
– Color: Carpenter ants are generally black with some that are a dark red. The color of termites ranges between dark brown and a creamy almost see thru white color.
– Antennae: The antennae on these pests is quite different as well. Termites have a pair of straight antennae while carpenter ants have a distinct elbow in their antennae.
– Wings: Their wings are going to look pretty different as well. They both have two sets of wings, but the wings look different on both. Termites have two sets of wings that are the same size. Ants have two sets with one being larger than the other.
– Body: The shape of their bodies will be another difference. Ants have a pinched waist while termites have a broader body that is straight.

Does the Carpenter Ant Eat Wood Like a Termite Does?

One of the most distinct differences between carpenter ants and termites is what they eat. This impacts the damage they do to your home as well. Termites cause significant damage in a small amount of time because they actually eat wood. They will infiltrate your home and start munching away. Carpenter ants don’t digest the wood they live in. They hollow out wood to build their nests inside of it. This means that carpenter ant damage is much slower. That doesn’t mean that over time the damage isn’t great, but if you catch a carpenter ant infestation early on, you won’t see as much damage as you would with termites. Carpenter ants are more interested in eating foods that are sugary, greasy and will even eat other insects that are smaller than they are.

Carpenter Ant & Termite Life Cycle Differences

Both termites and carpenter ants live in a caste system. However, the key difference between the two pests is that termites will live much longer than carpenter ants. A termite queen can live as long as 30 years in ideal circumstances.

Pest Inspections & Control

If you are concerned that you have termites or carpenter ants living in the walls of your home, don’t hesitate to contact Ross Environmental Solutions to get rid of them for you. The sooner we get control of an infestation, the better off your house will be. Call us today!