After an unusually warm winter, bugs and insects are becoming more active sooner than expected, including termite swarmers. It’s important to be able to identify and determine the difference between winged termites and winged ants, especially during the spring.

Winged Termites Characteristics

  • Thick waist
  • Straight antennae
  • Two sets of wings of equal size

Winged Ants Characteristics

  • Antennae is bent
  • Hourglass-shaped Waist
  • The front two wings are smaller than the back two wings

Have you noticed any mud tubes in the basement or garage? Any discarded wings near doors and windows? If so, you may have a termite infestation.

  • Termites will destroy wood
  • Termites appear white or brown
  • Termites have to stay moist or they will die
  • Termites measure between an eighth of an inch to an inch
  • Subterranean termites can be found living in colonies underground
  • Termites will build mud tubes to connect their underground nest to their food source
  • Of the more than 2,000 species of termites, the Subterranean termite creates the most damage and destruction on U.S. homes

Prevention Before Infestation

  • Reduce humidity in crawl spaces
  • Keep firewood away from home
  • Keep mulch beds away from foundation
  • Clear any moisture around exterior of home – downspouts, water spigots, leaky water lines, air-conditioner drip lines, along sewer lines, any standing water, missing, broken or clogged gutters or roof tiles

About Southern Pest Control & Sovereign Pest Control:
Southern Pest Control & Sovereign Pest Control offer a full line of pest control, termite, exterminating and mosquito management services for residential homeowners. A dedicated dispatch, GPS and routing system, along with on the hour appointments, enables SPC to cater to their customers’ schedules. All field personnel are state registered or certified. SPC services over 40,000 residential homeowners. Contact Southern Pest Control at (800) 627-0577 to schedule an inspection. For a list of complete services and locations please visit www.southernpestcontrol.com. Southern Pest Control can also be found on social media websites: facebook.com/southernpestcontrol