Termites and Carpenter Ants have more in common than most people would assume. Mostly, both pests are wood vandals. Termites and carpenter ants cause extremely expensive damage to wood and interior parts of your home. Besides that, there are other similarities between the two, such as appearance. Many homeowners have mistaken carpenter ants for termites, and visa versa. Therefore, it’s important to be able to identify differences between these two species. The main difference is that termites consume wood for sustenance, as it is a source of nutrition for their species. While on the other hand, carpenter ants cannot digest wood cellulose. Carpenter ants chomp on the wood in order to burrow and create a shelter for their species.
Appearance
For starters, one way that can help differentiate between the two is their appearance. Termites have a head and thorax, while carpenter ants have a head, thorax, and abdomen. In addition to the physical differences in body structure, termite wings are typically much longer than carpenter ants, in reference to body size. In terms of color, carpenter ants are typically black or dark brown, and sometimes appear with a red tint. On the other hand, termites range in color from creamy white to a dark brown or black.
Nests
As far as nesting goes, both termites and carpenter ants will build their colonies inside the wood in your home. The difference between the two is that carpenter ants prefer wood that has been wet or damaged, meaning they can often be found in damaged window and door frames, sinks, and bathtubs. On the other hand, depending on the species, termites will build their colonies in a variety of types of wood. For example, Drywood Termites build their nests in dry wood, such as wood flooring, attics, window sills, and even furniture.
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