‘Tis the season for swarming insects
Termite swarmers can be easily confused with winged ants. There are three features which can be used to quickly differentiate between the two insects — the antennae, the “waist” or constriction between the thorax and abdomen and the length of the wings. Termite swarmers have relatively straight antenna, while winged ants have bent or “elbowed” antennae. The constriction between an ant’s thorax and abdomen is narrow, while the division between the thorax and abdomen is harder to distinguish on a termite. Termites have two pairs of wings which are equal in length; an ant’s hind legs are noticeably smaller that the first pair.