What A Termite Looks Like

Contributed by Don Pellis

Both carpenter ants and worker termites can do damage to your furniture and home. Identifying which is which however is important for you to get the right help and treatment. Although a specialist normally knows what a termite looks like, your early detection can help provide immediate and proper attention.

The Subterranean Termites

Not everyone knows what a subterranean termite looks like but it is important to know exactly what they look like because they can cause serious damage to your home. There are many different species of termites which may further muddle your idea of how a termite looks like. Subterranean termites however are the most common species found in homes. They usually feed on wood and paper based products and to the unaware, every termite looks like it can harm your precious library or furniture. Your major concern however should be the worker termites.

Termites are actually divided into different groups, soldiers, reproductives or swarmers and workers. Not every termite looks like a grain of rice but a lot of them do. Soldiers however have mandibles while reproductives have wings. The worker termite looks like a reproductive but is smaller and has no wings. They are the most numerous in a colony and are the main wood eaters.

Swarmer Ants and Termites

Detecting swarmer termites is usually your first warning sign that there may be a termite infestation. This is because swarmers are the ones who propagate termite colonies. Some think that a swarmer termite looks like a flying ant. The truth is that there are major differences.

An ant's body is composed of a head, a slim abdomen and a thorax. A termite looks like it only has a head and a straight body.

Both ants and termites have four wings. Ants however have longer front than rear wings and have apparent vein marks. Termites have four wings of equal length that are far longer than the body and do not have vein marks.

An ant's antennae have a slight bend that may end in some sort of a small club. Termites on the other hand have beaded antennae that do not bend and have no club-like ends and point away from the body.

Where Swarmers Stay

Swarmer termites outside your house does not call for much alarm. These swarmers may simply have been blown by the wind. Swarmers are also not the main termite wood eaters. You should be a little concerned though if you notice a number of swarmer ants flying away from your house and from cracks, windows and woodwork. You may have some form of termite infestation.

Getting Help

Termites are not easy to get rid of. Using an ordinary pests or insecticide may not effectively remedy your termite problems. You may have to ask for some expert help. Experts may use chemical treatment in which termicide is applied on wood and other house areas to prevent termites from invading the house structure. The baiting technique may also be used in which chemicals are spread throughout the colony through wood baits carrying chemicals.

About the Author

Discover what a termite looks like. It may just save your home and property! Get the best termite control company nearest you.