Identifying flying ants can save you a lot of time and trouble if you’re trying to rid your home of annoying insects. Flying ants closely resemble other insects, especially termites, meaning you could end up wasting a considerable amount of time if you try to kill the wrong bug. Here are some tips to help you identify flying ants.

One of the most noticeable differences between flying ants and other insects is the shape of their body. Flying ants and termites are often confused, although their body shapes are extremely different. The flying ant’s body is hourglass shaped, much like the body of other ants. Its body is divided into three areas; the head, thorax and abdomen. Termites, on the other hand, have long, thick bodies.

Flying ants look remarkably like other types of ants, except for one major difference: the standard ant doesn’t have wings. Wings are a dead giveaway that you’re not dealing with a standard ant. Both flying ants and termites have two sets of wings. The flying ants’ front wings are longer than the back wings. Termites have longer wings than a flying ant, although this is difficult to discern unless you are comparing the two bugs side by side. In addition, the wings of a termite are equal length; their front wings are not longer than their back wings, unlike the flying ant.

Flying ants have bent, scaly antennae, unlike other ants and insects. Termites have straight antennae which have more of a beaded appearance.

If you are having difficulty determining whether an insect in your home is a flying ant or a termite, see if you can capture it. Yes, this probably means that you will have to kill it. You can use the criteria described above to determine what type of insect is. If you’re still having trouble, you may want to consult a professional.