Pest guide
Carpenter ant vs. termite: a side-by-side guide
Both can turn up as winged swarmers in spring, and both damage wood. Their biology, the evidence they leave, and the right response are very different.
The 10-second test
Look at the waist: ants are pinched, termites are thick and straight. Look at the antennae: ants are elbowed, termites are straight. Look at the wings: ant front wings are longer than the hind wings, while termite wings are all the same length.
Full comparison
| Carpenter ants | Subterranean termites | |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Black or black-and-red workers | Creamy white workers; dark swarmers |
| What they do to wood | Excavate smooth, clean galleries; don’t eat wood | Eat wood; galleries packed with soil |
| Debris | Coarse frass (wood shavings and insect parts) | Mud tubes; no shavings |
| Moisture link | Prefer damp or decaying wood | Need soil moisture; reach wood through tubes |
| Visibility | Workers forage in the open at night | Workers rarely seen |
| Service | Carpenter ant control | Termite control |