Here in the State of Florida, termites are a big problem. They love our humidity and are known to devour wooden structures faster and easier than you could imagine. However, they’re not the only pests you need to worry about destroying the wooden elements of your home. Enter the carpenter ant.
There’s another wood-eating maniac in town. While the carpenter ant is often confused with termites and is also known to do severe damage to an untreated home, they are an entirely different species of pest. The ability to tell the difference between termites and carpenter ants can make the difference between a little bit of damage and substantial damage. Your family deserves to live in a home that is protected sooner rather than later.
If you’re having trouble parsing out which bug is which, check out this list of essential things you should know about each. If you see either one around your property, we urge you to give us a call. Prevention and early treatment are the two best ways to protect your home.
They Look Different Up Close
If you’re having difficulty telling the difference between carpenter ants and termites, begin by recognizing some of the trademark ant features. For example, ants have segmented bodies, while termites do not. This means that ants have three individual body segments. Termites, on the other hand, have large heads and long white bodies. What can be tricky to differentiate is that both pests have wings during some point in their life cycle. However, once termites have found a nest, they drop their wings while the reproductive forms of carpenter ants(kings and queens) keep theirs.
Are They Eating Or Nesting?
Termites are ravenous creatures. They gnaw away at your home day in and day out to satiate their big appetites. Carpenter ants have a different motivation. Rather than eating your home, they carve out tunnels in the wood to create nests and their diet is strictly leafy greens. You can tell the difference between the damage created by a termite and a carpenter ant based on the quality of their work. Carpenter ants carve smooth tunnels, and termites are a bit more messy. Both are dangerous as they can damage the structural integrity of your property.
Where Do They Live?
Typically, carpenter ants build their nests outside in old trees, under the eaves of your home, or in exterior structures. Termites are more likely to cause damage to the interior of your home. It’s not impossible that their locations would be switched, but this is another helpful hint when trying to discern what type of problem you have.
We love providing educational information so homeowners can get to the bottom of their pest problems. But working with Holder means you don’t have to know all the answers. Hiring a professional pest control company is the fastest and easiest way to avoid pest problems in your home.
An infestation is an infestation, no matter what pest you are dealing with. If you see evidence of wood damage or suspect there may be something brewing behind your walls, it’s time to take action and call a local, dependable pest control professional. We have decades of experience helping homeowners navigate pest control issues at Holder Termite and Pest Control. Let us be the team that protects your home too. Call us today if you’re ready to put a stop to your infestation.
