Do you have Termites or Ants?

Do you have Termites or Ants? All termites have a “thick waist” where their abdomen is joined to their middle body region (thorax); but all ants have a “pinched-in-waist” at that point. All termites have antennae that look like a “string of beads;” but all ants have “elbowed” antennae. Termite swarmers have two pairs of long narrow, wings with very few clearly visible veins, and both the front and back pair are nearly equal in size and length. Winged ants have two pairs of wings with several distinct cross veins, shaped like long triangles, and the back pair is much shorter than the front pair.

Interesting Facts

• The total weight of all termites in the world is greater than all the humans in the world.
• Termites cause about $800 million in damage each year in this country, more than all fires, storms and earthquakes combined.
• Seven to eight percent of the general population is allergic to cockroaches.
• Carpenter ants derive their name from their habit of chewing galleries into wood and leaving sawdust piles around the entrance to the nest.
• Insects represent three-fifths of all living species- plants and animals combined.
• German cockroaches are most commonly introduced into buildings through paper products, grocery bags, cardboard boxes, drink cartons, and second-hand appliances.
• Worker ants can live up to 7 years, while the queen ant can live as long as 15 years.