Finding damaged wood or a pile of what looks like sawdust around your home is unsettling. For many homeowners, the first thought after seeing these signs is “termites.” However, carpenter ants can leave behind some of the same warning signs.
Carpenter ants and termites are both common in Florida, but they are very different pests. Knowing which one you have matters because the damage they cause and the treatments used for pest control are not the same.
Here are a few ways to tell the difference.
1. What Do Carpenter Ants Look Like?
Carpenter ants are larger than many of the ants commonly found around Florida homes. These ants are usually black, reddish, or a combination of the two. All of their bodies have a narrow waist, and their antennae have a noticeable bend.
Winged carpenter ants can sometimes be confused with termite swarmers. One easy difference is the wings. A carpenter ant’s front wings are longer than its back wings. Both sets of a termite’s wings are generally about the same size.
2. What Do Termites Look Like?
Termites have a much straighter body shape without the narrow waist seen on carpenter ants. Other differences are that the antennae are also straighter. Termite swarmers usually have two sets of wings that are nearly equal in length
Most homeowners will not see wingless worker termites crawling around the house. Some signs of a swarm are discarded wings, mud tubes, or damage to wood.
3. Do Carpenter Ants Eat Wood?
Carpenter ants do not eat wood. Instead, they remove pieces of it to build tunnels and nesting areas. Those tunnels can weaken the wood over time, which is one of the main causes of carpenter ant damage.
Moist or damaged wood is especially attractive to carpenter ants in Florida. Roof leaks, plumbing problems, damaged window frames, and other areas with excess moisture can give them a good place to nest. Homeowners may also notice small piles of wood shavings near openings where the ants have been working.
4. How Is Termite Damage Different from Carpenter Ant Damage?
Termites actually feed on the cellulose found in wood. A colony can continue eating through structural lumber, flooring, trim, and other materials while staying mostly out of sight. Hiring pest control services is key to limiting termite damage.
Subterranean termites often leave mud tubes along foundations or other surfaces. Drywood termites can leave small piles of droppings behind. Wood that sounds hollow when tapped or appears damaged beneath the surface can also point to termite activity.
5. When Should You Be Concerned About Carpenter Ants?
Seeing an occasional carpenter ant does not always mean you have a nest inside your house. Ants may wander indoors while searching for food or water. On the other hand, frequent sightings are more concerning.
Large ants appearing indoors at night, wood shavings near walls, or ants repeatedly entering the same opening can all point to a nearby ant colony. Spraying the ants you see may kill a few of them, but it will not necessarily reach the nest.
Carpenter Ants vs Termites: Why Proper Identification Matters
A professional pest inspection in DeLand can identify the pest, locate activity, and check for damage that may not be visible to the homeowner. Homeowners in Orange City and other nearby communities should consider an inspection after finding swarmers, mud tubes, damaged wood, or persistent ant activity.
Holder Pest Control has been serving DeLand and other parts of Volusia County for more than 40 years. If you are looking for an ant exterminator in Florida, termite control, or general pest control, a professional inspection can help you find out what is happening before the damage gets worse.