Are White Ants Always Termites?

Termites and ants are both wood eating insects. However, they are distinguished from each other by shape and color. Both insects have two antennae. Carpenter ants have an elbow joint at the middle of the antennae. They also have a stick-like quality to the antennae.

The carpenter ant is the most common flying ant. The carpenter ant has two pairs of wings. The back hind wing is shorter than the front fore wing.

The termite is often mistaken for a flying ant. The termite is usually a little lighter in color than the ant. The termite is also a little larger than the ant.

Termites are considered eusocial animals. They have complex hierarchical social organizations. They can live up to 25 years. The queen lays up to 2,000 eggs daily. The workers feed the young. They work constantly. They also help the queen to raise the offspring. The workers have large jaws to defend the colony. They are sometimes blind.

White ants are ground dwelling timber-eating insects. They prefer to stay in moisture rich soil. They eat cellulose-rich substances, including mud and timber. They leave a thin veneer of timber. Their habitat is very similar to that of a cockroach. They are also very secretive. They like to enter through cracks and expansion joints. They also build mud shelter tubes to protect them from predators. They also like to enter through fire heaths and infill patios.

They can pass through 2 mm cracks. They can also be found on the ceiling. The termite can damage the wooden structure inside a home.

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