Do not mistake termites for white ants as many people do. They are actually quite different if you just learn a few key distinguishing features between the two.
The reason many people confuse the two is that the adult termite and certain adult ants both grow wings when they are ready to mate. At this stage in their lives (known as alate) they look quite similar.
Table of Contents
- Appearance of Different Castes of Termites (Soldiers, Queens, Workers)
- What Termite Swarmers or Winged Termites Look Like
- The difference in Appearance Between Ants & Termites
- Further Resources for Termite Identification:
Appearance of Different Castes of Termites (Soldiers, Queens, Workers)
Termites, like many other insects, have strong mandibles or jaws for their size. And like ants, termites can pinch you with their mandibles. However, unlike some ant bites, termite bites will NOT sting. You can learn more about termite bites here.
Thanks for sharing what a termite looks like. I found a bunch of winged termites coming out of my window sill earlier this year in the spring. I thought they were some type of flying ant, but after reading your article I think they may have been termites. Now I’m a little worried because I went and bought some ant spray and went to town on the area. I haven’t seen any signs of them since, but since termites usually live inside the wood, should I get an inspection?
Bart, yes I would absolutely recommend an inspection. It sounds like you may have had drywood termites in your window trim / sill and they may have reached the mature alate stage, sprouted wings, and flew away to establish a new colony. The question is, did the termites emerge from your house or did they emerge from a tree in the neighborhood and attempt to setup residence in your home? An inspection is required to have a better idea. What you can do is take a screw driver and tap it along your window trim where you saw the flying termites last spring. Does it sound hallow? Tap all around the window so you have a reference point. Also, look for termite droppings or frass and keep an eye out for termite “kickout” holes. These are tiny holes that termites will make from inside the wood to the outside to clean out some of their droppings. If you find any termite kickout holes, excrement, or sounds of hallow wood during the tap test, please call or contact a professional (you can do that here) to perform a more thorough inspection. Even if you do not find any signs of termite activity on your own, it is still a good idea to have a professional termite inspection conducted. Be sure to tell him or her everything you remember about what you saw and the location. Best of luck to you and please come back and share any tips you learn, would love to hear some feedback, positive or negative.