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Experienced AZ Pest Control Specialists Share Tips To Tell The Difference Between Large Black Ants & Termites

You know that termites can destroy your home if left unchecked. But they are not the only pests that can chew through the wood in your home, undermining its structural integrity. Carpenter ants can also eat the wood in your home, causing serious damage. They just don’t do it as quickly as termites, making them somewhat easier to manage.

You need to know whether you have termites or carpenter ants in your home so you can get the right Gilbert pest control treatment. However, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two. That’s also why you need a professional pest control technician in Gilbert to perform the technician. Here are a few ways you may be able to tell the difference for yourself:

Carpenter Ants or Termites: Spotting the Differences

Physical Characteristics

Carpenter ants and termites look a lot alike at first glance. They both look basically like big ants with wings. However, if you look closer at them, you will see that there are differences.

Termites have a slightly broader waist than carpenter ants, and they have a straight and bead-like body. In contrast, carpenter ants have a segmented body that is distinctly elbowed. Carpenter ants also have larger forewings with small hind wings, while termites have two sets of fragile wings that are the same size. Termites are transparent, light, or creamy white, while carpenter ants are usually reddish or dark-colored.

Don’t just look down and see the ant-like body and wings and assume you have termites. Take a closer look to determine what you’re dealing with. Better yet, call a pest control company in Chandler to get a proper inspection and diagnosis.

Nests

Termites and carpenter ants both nest in wood. However, they build their nests differently. When termites create the tunnels in wood, they eat the wood as they go along. Carpenter ants just push the wood out of the way, so you are likely to see small wood shavings to indicate their presence. Termites also make uneven tunnels, while carpenter ants make smoother, more even passageways.

Termites also use mud to create tunnels through which to travel. If you see mud tunnels near your foundation, that’s a good indication you have termites. You should call a Chandler pest control company right away to schedule an inspection.

Type of Damage

The primary difference in the damage that termites and carpenter ants cause to your home is the rate of spread. Termites are literal eating machines. They do not stop eating. They can tear through your home faster than you can imagine, leaving a trail of extensive damage in their wake.
Carpenter ants will damage the wood in your home also, but they will do so much more slowly.

Options for Pest Control

You cannot treat for carpenter ants or termites yourself, though you can take measures to make your home less attractive or hospitable to them, such as by removing sources of moisture and keeping wood and other organic matter far from your home. The only way to effectively treat carpenter ants and termites is to hire a professional pest control company to do it for you.

Professional pest control technicians in Gilbert have the experience and the training to properly identify carpenter ants and termites and to select the right treatments for them. These pests have different habits and characteristics, and the same pesticides will not work on both of them. The professionals recognize them, and they have differentiated treatment options designed for each, specific pest. That approach ensures that these destructive pests are eradicated and are kept out of your home once and for all.

Don’t try to treat carpenter ants or termites yourself, and don’t waste any time trying to distinguish between the two. Call the experienced professionals at Varsity Termite and Pest Control to schedule an inspection and treatment. We offer effective pest control solutions for a wide variety of pests that can be a nuisance for Phoenix homes, including termites, ants, scorpions, crickets, roaches, rats, pigeons, and more. We can eradicate any active infestations, and we can apply preventive treatments to ensure that your home remains protected. We offer affordable pest control services and maintenance treatments. Call Varsity Termite and Pest Control in Phoenix today to schedule an inspection and consultation.

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