Both can have wings. Both damage wood. Have you got termites or carpenter ants or both?
Termites and Carpenter Ants Look Alike
To the untrained eye, a carpenter ant and a termite in their winged phases can look an awful lot alike. It’s important to learn how to tell the difference so you know what is at risk and how to get rid of your problem. Termites and carpenter ants can both have wings, but the similarities end there. Both pests come in a number of species, but the general differences are:
| Termites | Carpenter Ants |
 |
 |
| Straight bodies | Pinched in waists |
| Straight antennae | Bent antennae |
| Wings the same length | Two sets of wings, one shorter than the other |
| Usually only swarm in Spring | Can swarm any time of the year |
| Usually brownish in color | Can be black, red, brown, yellow, orange, or red and black |
| More on termites | More on carpenter ants |
Carpenter Ants and Termites Cause Different Kinds of Damage
Both insects damage wood in your home, but not in the same way. For termites, wood is food. They bore into wood and consume it. For carpenter ants, wood is home. They bore large holes to nest and raise young.
Different Treatments Will Get Rid of Carpenter Ants and Treat Termite Infestations
Both carpenter ant and termite infestations are complex problems. The insects you see are most likely just a fraction of the insects in your home. Carpenter ants can create colonies of auxiliary nests in different places in a single structure. Termites galleries can extend deeply into wood. Getting rid of each kind of pest requires specialized equipment to deliver specific treatments. Knockout Pest Control offers state-of-the-art treatments, as well as green options.
Centipedes and millipedes are covered in our effective and affordable Integrated Pest Management Annual Package KO-12 Program that provides you with pest protection throughout the year.
Knockout Pest Control Can Knock Out Termites and Carpenter Ants
Knockout Pest Control is your local expert at knocking out termites and carpenter ants–and we keep them down for the count. Every member of our team receives over 100 hours of classroom instruction and in-the-field training so you are guaranteed a knockout punch to your pest problem every time. We serve all of Long Island, New York City, and Westchester and Rockland Counties. Call 1-800-244-PEST or 1-800-244-7378 We respond like every pest problem is an emergency with fast, 24 hour service seven days a week. We don’t have the big red boxing glove in our logo for nothing!
