The key difference between flying carpenter ants and termites is that flying carpenter ants nest in wood but do not consume wood, while termites nest in wood and consume wood.
Most insect species prefer to be alone. They may lay eggs but don’t usually build nests. However, some insect species like ants, wasps, bees, and termites build elaborate nests, often underground and hidden. These nests are chambers for eggs and larvae. There is usually a queen whose duty is to start the nest and lay eggs while worker ants help to survive the colony of ants. Flying carpenter ants and termites are two types of insects that nest in wood.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What are Flying Carpenter Ants
3. What are Termites
3. Similarities – Flying Carpenter Ants and Termites
4. Flying Carpenter Ants vs Termites in Tabular Form
5. Summary – Flying Carpenter Ants vs Termites
What are Flying Carpenter Ants?
Flying carpenter ants are insects that usually nest in wood. These insects have wings that are larger in the front than in the back. Their wings are shorter and more proportionate to their bodies. Flying carpenter ants can be black, brown, or reddish in colour. They have bent or elbowed antennae and segmented bodies due to thin waists. Moreover, flying carpenter ants live in wood and wood structures. They nest in hollow trees, old trumps, and other wet, punky woody areas. These insect species are omnivores, eating primarily nectar, other insects, seeds, and food debris.
Figure 01: Flying Carpenter Ant
Flying carpenter ants have a 4-stage life cycle. These stages include egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Once they mate, male ants die off. Worker ants live for a few months while queens can live for years. In the warm months, they fly from their nest to mate and establish new colonies. But after they mate, they lose their wings. Furthermore, the best controlling method for this insect species is locating the nest and directly treating it with Dursban (Chlorpyrifos ethyl, an organophosphate pesticide).
What are Termites?
Termites are insects that normally nest in wood and consume wood. These species have four wings that are uniform in size and equal in length. The wings are also twice as long as their body length and are clear in colour. Termites’ antennae are straight. They are characteristically black or dark brown in colour. Moreover, termites have broad-waisted bodies that are mostly uniform in width along the entire length.
Figure 02: Termites
Termites are normally found in tree stumps, decaying trees, lumber, wood debris, and wooden structures. The main diets of termites are wood, paper, and cellulose-based products. In the termite life cycle, there are 3 stages: egg, larvae, and adult. Both males and females continue to live after they mate. In addition, termites live for a couple of years while queens live for decades. Furthermore, termites can be controlled by using conventional termiticides that contain active ingredients such as acetamiprid, bifenthrin, and chlorantraniliprole.
What are the Similarities Between Flying Carpenter Ants and Termites?
- Flying carpenter ants and termites are two types of insects that nest in wood.
- Both species have 4 wings.
- They can be found in wooden structures.
- Both species live in large colonies with distinctive caste systems.
- They have similar reproductive cycles.
- Both species fly from their nest in warm months to mate and establish new colonies.
- These species lose their wings after they mate.
- The damages they cause can be effectively controlled.
What is the Difference Between Flying Carpenter Ants and Termites?
Flying carpenter ants are insects that do not eat wood, while termites are insects that consume wood. Thus, this is the key difference between flying carpenter ants and termites. Furthermore, flying carpenters cause less damage to the home and wooden structures, while termites cause significant damage to the home and wooden structures.
The below infographic presents the differences between flying carpenter ants and termites in tabular form for side by side comparison.
Summary – Flying Carpenter Ants vs Termites
Flying carpenter ants and termites are two types of insects that nest in wood and wooden structures. Flying carpenter ants are insects that nest in wood and do not eat wood, while termites are insects that nest in wood and consume wood. So, this is the key difference between flying carpenter ants and termites.
Reference:
1. “Winged Carpenter Ants.” Plant & Pest Diagnostics. Canr.msu.edu
2. “Termite.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Alate (winged) male carpenter ant, Camponotus sp. – Eric Eaton” By Andy Reago & Chrissy McC (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Termites-nature-food-insect-small” (CC0) via Pixabay