There are several visible differences between the termite and the flying ant.
The swarming termite has a broad waist. Its front and back wings are the same size,
sporting many translucent veins and its antennae are straight. By contrast,
the swarming ant has a narrow waist, its front wings are larger than its back ones and
there are not as many veins. Its antennae have a bent elbow shape.
Subterranean Termites
This silent invader lives underground and multiplies by the thousands,
always in search for wood to feed their colonies. Left undetected, they will tirelessly
attack a home, causing dangerous and costly structural damage. Subterranean termites enjoy
warmth and like to eat cellulose, a material found in all plant cells. This nourishment
enables them to tunnel their way through solid wood such as your house timber. The first
attack is likely to be on the underground structure of your house. As a rule, they travel
above ground for food (wood) and underground for moisture. A termite mud tunnel found
between the soil and wood construction in your home is a sign of infestation. Termites
feed on any structure containing wood, they also attack slab homes and can enter through
cracks as small as 1/64th of an inch.
