Unwanted Houseguests: Flying Ants vs. Swarming Termites

UNWANTED HOUSEGUESTS: FLYING ANTS Vs. SWAAMING TERMITES HOME INVADER DANGER → Ants and termites can damage your home: + TERMITES eat wood: 1 cubic ft. or more annually ANTS burrow into wood to build nests The longer they stay, the more severe the damage Ant and termite damage repair can be costly WHEN TO CALL PEST CONTROL: Call a pest control company if you see: Wood shaving piles Swarming insects, especially indoors or around wood Darkening/blistering of wood Thin mud trails on exterior walls and wood beams FLYING ANTS vs. SWARMING TERMITES → Proper identification of these winged insects leads to the right removal techniques Swarming Termites Flying Ants Antennae Elbowed/bent Straight and beaded Waist Pinched waist No pinch – broad waist 2 sets Wings are the same size Wings 2 sets Front wings longer Light bodies - white/tan Color Dark bodies - black/brown Preferred Summer Spring Swarm Times Reason for Start new colony Start new colony Swarming Up to 8 per summer for some species Once – wings shed after single flight Single insect swarm frequency Provided by: ATKINS Since 1925 www.atkinssince1925.com Sources: www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/do-you-have-flying-ants-or-termites pestcontrol.about.com/od/diyantcontrol/a/Indoor-Fly- ing-Ants-Are-Not-A-Good-Sign.htm wwwl.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/carpenter-ants/ %24 %24 %24 UNWANTED HOUSEGUESTS: FLYING ANTS Vs. SWAAMING TERMITES HOME INVADER DANGER → Ants and termites can damage your home: + TERMITES eat wood: 1 cubic ft. or more annually ANTS burrow into wood to build nests The longer they stay, the more severe the damage Ant and termite damage repair can be costly WHEN TO CALL PEST CONTROL: Call a pest control company if you see: Wood shaving piles Swarming insects, especially indoors or around wood Darkening/blistering of wood Thin mud trails on exterior walls and wood beams FLYING ANTS vs. SWARMING TERMITES → Proper identification of these winged insects leads to the right removal techniques Swarming Termites Flying Ants Antennae Elbowed/bent Straight and beaded Waist Pinched waist No pinch – broad waist 2 sets Wings are the same size Wings 2 sets Front wings longer Light bodies - white/tan Color Dark bodies - black/brown Preferred Summer Spring Swarm Times Reason for Start new colony Start new colony Swarming Up to 8 per summer for some species Once – wings shed after single flight Single insect swarm frequency Provided by: ATKINS Since 1925 www.atkinssince1925.com Sources: www.mnn.com/your-home/at-home/stories/do-you-have-flying-ants-or-termites pestcontrol.about.com/od/diyantcontrol/a/Indoor-Fly- ing-Ants-Are-Not-A-Good-Sign.htm wwwl.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/carpenter-ants/ %24 %24 %24