Difference Between Carpenter Ants and Termites

Body Shape One of the key differences between termites and ants is the shape of their bodies. Carpenter ants, along with other ants, have narrow "waists." Termites, on the other hand, have more broad "waists."

1. How do you tell if you have termites or carpenter ants?
2. What's worse carpenter ants or termites?
3. What are the signs of carpenter ants?
4. How do you get rid of termites and carpenter ants?
5. Do carpenter ants go away on their own?
6. What do termites hate?
7. How do you get rid of a carpenter ant infestation?
8. How do you find a carpenter ant nest?
9. Do carpenter ants kill termites?
10. When should I worry about carpenter ants?
11. What is the best product to kill carpenter ants?
12. Why do carpenter ants suddenly appear?

How do you tell if you have termites or carpenter ants?

For starters, one main difference between termites and carpenter ants is the body shape. Termites have a head and a thorax; whereas ants have a head, thorax and abdomen (see the difference in the images above). Termite wings are usually much longer than ant wings – about double the length of the termite body.

What's worse carpenter ants or termites?

Carpenter ants and termites both present a risk to your home, but while either can cause considerable damage to wooden structures, the termite will invoke significantly more damage than the carpenter ant and will accomplish it in a shorter period of time.

What are the signs of carpenter ants?

Common carpenter ant infestation signs are:

• Carpenter ants crawling in a building or home.
• Carpenter ants crawling out of holes or crevices in home.
• Piles of wood shavings.
• Faint rustling noise in walls.

How do you get rid of termites and carpenter ants?

Try a boric acid bait.

1. Buy boric acid at a garden supply store.
2. Mix with powdered sugar, in a ratio of about 1/3 sugar to 2/3 boric acid.
3. Fill bottle caps with the mixture. Set down around the area where you observe the ants.
4. When they return it to the nest, it will kill the ants in the nest.

Do carpenter ants go away on their own?

Once established, a carpenter ant colony isn't likely to move away because you've clean up the place. Carpenter ants are always encroaching. If you'd like to know for sure that these wood chewers won't make their home inside your home, get ongoing pest control like Witt Pest Management's Topcare service.

What do termites hate?

Termites hate sunlight. In fact, they can actually die if they are exposed to too much sunlight and heat.

How do you get rid of a carpenter ant infestation?

How do I get rid of carpenter ants?

1. Make a bait to find the nest. Pest experts advise setting out a bait for the ant to take back to the nest, so you can actually find the nest just by watching them. ...
2. Eliminate scent trails. Carpenter ants rely on pheromone trails to find food sources and to travel. ...
3. Destroy the nest.

How do you find a carpenter ant nest?

Types of Carpenter Ant Nests

Favorite spots include tree stumps, decaying logs, boards and logs buried underneath. If there is a parent nest inside your house, you may find it in dishwashers, sinks, showers, bathtubs, around the bathroom and kitchen tiles. The parent colony houses the queen, worker ants, and the brood.

Do carpenter ants kill termites?

7 – Carpenter ants can kill and eat termites

Termites and carpenter ants are natural rivals since they like similar living conditions and chew through wood for their own colonies.

When should I worry about carpenter ants?

If you see a single reddish or black ant, with a single node between its abdomen and thorax, anywhere inside your home, it is time to be worried about carpenter ants. ... You're likely to only see a single ant here or there. It is only when carpenter ants find a food source that they will mobilize into large numbers.

What is the best product to kill carpenter ants?

Outside Carpenter Ant Control

Advance Carpenter Ant Bait or KM Ant Pro Ant Bait Station are the only products that will effectively work long term to kill carpenter ants. These baits can be used in small quantities and applied close to the source of the nest or where the worker ants can pick them up.

Why do carpenter ants suddenly appear?

These are ants sent out from a mature colony to begin new colonies when the original colony has matured. They will appear only for around half an hour before finding a mate and disappearing inside a new area of infestation. They may also be found under mulch or other wood products in a yard.