Termite or Flying Ant?

Finding flying termites can be a big worry. Many homeowners have significant worries over termite infestations. An infestation of termites will bring down an entire house if it not properly treated. With homes being most people’s biggest investment, they are understandably anxious to protect it. This means that when they find a flying termite in their homes (or even near it) they can be worried. However, flying ants look very similar to flying termites and the two can be easily confused. This article will look at the differences of flying termites versus flying ants so that you can determine whether you need to get a termite inspection or whether you can just leave it and no harm will be done.

Flying Termite Bodies vs Flying Ant Bodies

The most distinctive difference between flying termites and flying ants is in the shape of their body. Flying ants have a body which is divided into three sections. The middle section of their body, the abdomen, is very small (much smaller than its body and its head). In contrast to this, a flying termite has only two sections (a head and a body). The body of a flying termite is fairly straight along its length – not curving inwards at the abdomen.

Flying Termite Wings vs Flying Ant Wings

Flying termites and ants also differ slightly in their wings. Both have two pairs of two wings. However, the front pair of wings of the flying ant are longer than its rear wings. With the termite, its wings are all the same length. This difference is a little harder to spot since they will tuck their wings up when not flying and it is difficult to spot when they are flying.

Flying Termite Antennae vs Flying Ant Antennae

The antennas of ants and termites also offer up a difference which can help you tell which is which. Ants have bent antennas. The antenna comes out of the side of the ants head, then their is a sharp corner in the antenna when it turns to point forwards (and slightly into each other). Termite antennas, on the other hand, do not have this kink. They come out of a more forwards position on the head and are much straighter.

Another difference in their antennae is the direction they point. If you followed the direction of an ant’s antennae, they would cross whereas termites’ antennae are splayed outwards.

Posted by Thomas on Oct 29, 2008

Subterranean Termites

• Common Name: Subterranean Termites
• Scientific Name: Various Species

The majority of termite infestations in North America are perpetuated by Subterranean Termites. Swarmers are around 3/8” long including wings and have a dark brown body which can almost appear black. Their wings on the other hand appear almost transluscent and are very light brown. Soldiers appear with dark brown or black mandibles with a large rectangular head in proportion to their body. Workers appear light brown to white. They have a circular head and oval shaped body.

Posted by Thomas on Oct 24, 2008

Drywood Termites

• Common Name: Drywood Termite
• Scientific Name: Various Species

Drywood Termites derive their name from their nesting habits. As opposed to Dampwood Termites who require damp or decaying wood, or Subterranean Termites nesting in the earth, Drywood Termites prefer dry wood with low moisture. This means they will show up in wood that is not in contact with the ground or any other moisture source. Also a helpful note on recognizing Drywood Termites, is they will not build mud tubes. Drywood Termite colonies are generally small in size, after four years they consist of somewhere between 70-700 individual termites. However a single structure can be infested by many colonies leading to a serious amount of damage.

Posted by Thomas on Oct 24, 2008

Pennsylvania Wood Cockroach

Scientific Name: Parcoblatta pensylvanica (DeGreer)

A chestnut brown cockroach about, 7/8- 1 1/8 inch in length. It’s prototal shields and forwing have a pale white edge. The wings of the male cover the abdomen. Male are good fliers. The females has wings the do not extend to the bottom of the abdomen, and can not fly. This Cockroach is considered an outdoors roach living under wood piles , tree bark, tree holes or similar areas. They rarely invade structures.

Posted by on Aug 16, 2008

Brown Banded Cockroach

• Small size about ½ to ¾ of an inch long
• Two pale brown bands across body
• Can be found living through out a structure
• Likes temperatures above 80° F
• Prefers bedrooms living in furniture, behind hanging pictures, bed head boards, wall molding, clocks, and closets
• Egg cases are glued to surfaces

This cockroach is commonly called the Brown Banded Cockroach However its Scientific Name is: Supella longipalpa (Fabricius)

Posted by on Aug 16, 2008

Australian Cockroach

• Scientific Name: Periplaneta australasiae (Fabricius)
• Belongs to the group Blattodea

This roach is close in size and color of the American Cockroach being 1.25-1.37 inches in length. Reddish brown with a pale brown to cream colored band around the margin of the pronotum. The wings extend past the abdomen. Australian Cockroaches also have a pail yellow stripe or streak on the basal edge of its wings. It’s has habits are similar to the American cockroach but is not as tolerant of cold temperatures. It is generally in the southern states, but has been recorded as far north as Canada. It feeds on many food sources, but may be somewhat of a vegetarian compared to other cockroaches.

Posted by on Aug 16, 2008

Oriental Cockroach

• Scientific Name: Blatta orientalis (Linn.)
• Belongs to the group: Blattodea

The oriental cockroach is a large cockroach, black in color about 1 inch (male) to 1.25 inch (female). The male Oriental roach has wings that cover ¾ of their abdomen. The female has wing pads that extend just past the head area. This roach does not fly. It with some other species is often referred to as a “water Bug”, most likely because it likes moist environments. It feeds on just about any food or decaying organic matter, but likes starchy food and filth. This roach is a little slower moving or less wary than many roaches. It survives out doors very well living under porches, rocks, leaf litter, or land landscaping. Indoors it is often seen in floor drains, under toilet lids, crawl spaces, etc.

Posted by on Aug 16, 2008

Smoky Brown Roach

• Scientific Name: Periplaneta fuliginosa (Serville)
• Belongs to the group: Blattodea

The Smoky Brown Roach is a large roach of dark brown color to almost black, similar in size to the American cockroach only slightly smaller ( about 1-1.5 inches in length), both male and female roachs have wings that cover the abdomen. The smoky brown is a very capable of flight. This roach is often found out doors and many times is attracted to porch lights. They prefer moist environments out of the air flow feeding on decaying organic matter. They are often found in wood piles, under stumps and in tree holes, under wood decking

Posted by Thomas on Aug 16, 2008