20 Myths About Termites: Busted

Termites and Ants

Termites and ants are often mistaken for each other. In fact, termites are in some cases referred to as "white ants" while red fire ants are at times described as "red termites." Because ants and termites might not be any more different from each other, both red termites and white ants are misnomers.

Why is it crucial to separate between ants and termites?

Termites and ants behave in a different way and respond in a different way to their environment. There are kinds of termites that are extremely destructive to property as they feed upon wood, their primary food source. Ants, as scavengers, essentially consume anything they can get their hands on and they do not target wood as their main food source. In this regard, termites present a larger problem for human beings than ants do.

Some pesticides will kill termites but not ants, while other pesticides work the other way around. There are only very few pesticides that can effectively control both termites and ants at the same time due to the fact that of the fundamental distinctions in between the 2 insects. As such, it is necessary to recognize these distinctions so that you can develop efficient options that can manage one or the other.

Habitat

One of the most glaring distinctions in between ants and termites is their habitat. Ants usually survive on the surface area which is a more practical setting for their scavenging habits.

Typically, they would construct simple ants mounds made of dirt, little bits of plant material, and saliva, to shelter their nest from the environment. However these mounds, compared to the more complex termite mounds, serve only as rudimentary building and constructions with little to no structural integrity. Because ants do not depend on their mounds to produce an environment that is more biologically favorable to them, this is.

On the other hand, most termite species are not able to endure the environment on the surface. They develop these mounds of dirt to allow them to manage the environment around them, making it more favorable for their survival and recreation. There are at least 2 highly typical species of termites that live under the ground.

Appearance

Termites and ants resemble each other, upon closer examination you can find a number of differences in their biological building and construction. For circumstances, the antennae of ants and termites are various in that termite antennae are made from simple, string of bead-like sections while ant antennae are elbowed.

Another considerable distinction between ants and termites is that ants have compound eyes, that makes it easy for them to find food on the surface area. Termites, on the other hand, typically do not have eyes. This is due to the reality that while underground, termites do not need eyes t find food and rather use their other senses to probe them. There are some termites, however, that have not very strong compound eyes.

Both red termites and white ants are misnomers due to the fact that ants and termites might not be any more different from each other.

Ants and termites act differently and react differently to their environment. Some pesticides will eliminate termites but not ants, while other pesticides work the other method around. There are just really few pesticides that can efficiently control both termites and ants at the same time since of the intrinsic differences in between the two bugs. Another substantial difference between termites and ants is that ants have compound eyes, which makes it easy for them to find food on the surface.