The two primary wood-destroying pests that we commonly encounter are carpenter ants and termites. Together they inflict more than billions of dollars in house damages across the globe every year. So, if you want to properly deal with such pests and eradicate them, then you need to be familiar with them and thus learn how they differ.
Hence, in this brilliant guide, we’ll be comparing carpenter ants and termites together, so that you can know how to differentiate between the two in the real world.
The Appearance
According to a dependable company for termite treatment in Perth, the only time you’ll see a termite flying around is when the swarmers will be moving from one place to another. Swarmers form the reproductive caste of the termite family and they will have wings. However, both ants and termites will showcase wing movements when they will be old enough to do so.
The only way you can tell the difference between carpenter ants and termites is to inspect them closely. Ants will have a segmented body along with straight antennae and one wing is larger than the other. On the other hand, termites will have a square-shaped body with bent antennae and having two similarly shaped wings.
When carpenter ants will leave their colony, you can detect them by noticing their large, dark brown or black-coloured appearance. These ants will scurry various materials around your property and thereby you can know whether you have a termite or ant infestation.
Note: Termite infestation can be located by minute canals or traces of soil on the surface of wood, masonry or concrete.
The Diet
As per a reputed contractor for roof repairs in Perth WA, termites always eat wood (mostly). However, carpenter ants are not only interested in eating wood but also look for other sources of water, sugar & protein. Hence, once ants create their colonies inside a wooden structure, they can infest other parts of your home in search of additional food.
However, it should be known that, unlike traditional termites, subterranean termites build their colonies underground and thereby feed on wood.
The Damage
When it comes to damage, carpenter ants and termites are on par with each other. But, subterranean termites will beat both of them. Compared to traditional termites & carpenter ants, subterranean termites can spread & multiply pretty fast. Hence, the damage that will be inflicted over time will be much more than traditional termites or carpenter ants.
Closing Thoughts
It can easily be concluded from the above-mentioned sets of information that both carpenter ants & termites (especially subterranean ones) are dangerous pests to deal with. If you don’t take corrective measures beforehand, then you can end up losing most of your house structure’s integrity.