The difference between a termite and an ant
Ants talk to each other via scents. Did you know? There are small trails they leave behind to help their buddies find delicious meals! These tiny adventurers travel great distances in search of food! Some ants are attracted to sweet foods like sugar and honey so if you have a sweet tooth you may be in for some curious ant friends!
What Do Ants Look Like?
Ants are typically darker in color and have some unique features:
They have elbowed antennae.
Their eyes are on the sides of their heads.
You’ll notice they have large forewings and smaller hind wings.
Their bodies are divided into three sections: the head, thorax, and abdomen (or gaster).
Plus, they sport a cute little thin waist where the thorax meets the abdomen!
What Do Ants Love to Eat?
Ants enjoy munching on:
Sugars and proteins
Moisture, wood, and, of course, sweet treats!
Ant Nests
Ant nests consists of types of ants, each with unique duties! There’s the queen ant, worker ants, soldier ants, and those other interesting flying ants.
Ants make smooth tunnels and chambers and also redial holes in wood for their nests.
Worker Ants (All Female)
These industrious little ladies are less than the size of soldier ants and are black, brown or reddish in color. The queen (or a few of them, if the colony is large) lays eggs, while the workers, who outnumber the queen by a lot, care for here, the young, hunt for food or maintain the home.
Soldier Ants (All Female)
Soldier ants are the colony's defenders They are larger than worker ants, and their robust jaws enable them to be used to defend their home and transport larger items.
Flying Ants (All Female)
Queens of the skies, these are queens In summer, when founding new colonies and constructing nests, they use their wings as a protein snack to sustain their families.
Winged Drone Ants (Male)
These guys have a special job: reproduction! They fly off with the females to start new colonies. Unfortunately, once they mate, it’s the end of the road for them.
Let’s Talk Termites
Generally called white ants, termites have different personalities.
Termite Characteristics
Termites eat cellulose, which is in wood, plants, and even paper! They even use cellulose (depending on the species) to build their nests.
What Do Termites Look Like?
Termites are usually a light cream or white colour and have:
Straight antennae
A thick, broad waist
Two sets of wings that are the same size but much longer than their bodies
What Do Termites Like to Eat?
These little critters love:
Wood and moisture (which can cause some damage to your home)
Cellulose from wood, plants, and paper
Termite Nests
Those brave termites are defending their colony and often giving up their own lives for the greater good. Their heads are enlarged with large jaws, yet they don’t eat; rather, they rely on worker termites for food.
Soldier Termites (Both Male & Female)
Workers are pale and perform a range of critical tasks, from building the colony to mining and even tending to the young. They form the majority of a colony and cause most of the damage to property done by termites.
Worker Termites (Both Male & Female)
Winged termites swarm out of their nests to mate and establish new colonies in the spring and summer. (Their wings shed immediately after mating, and they relocate.)
Winged Termites
Winged termites emerge from their nests in the spring and summer to mate and establish new colonies. The wings drop off instantly after mating, and they seek new homes.
Carpenter Ants vs. Termites
Carpenter ants resemble flying termites during their mating season, but they are quite different! They do not consume wood like termites; they simply construct their nests in it. Wood shavings help determine whether you’re facing carpenter ants or termites.
Both carpenter ants and termites can damage your home, and it’s worthwhile to know how to tell the two apart!
Precise Termite Treatment Rivervale offers all pest control services in Rivervale and surroundings. Feel free to contact us at(08) 6103 5097or visit our website:
https://precisetermitetreatment.com.au/
