Termite or Flying Ant? The 30-Second Quiz
Winged bugs by the window and a sinking feeling? Look at one closely, answer four questions, and know in thirty seconds.
The short version
Termite swarmers have four wings of equal length, a thick straight waist and straight antennae. Flying ants have longer front wings, a pinched waist and elbowed antennae. If you find piles of identical shed wings by a window, it's almost certainly termites.
On this page
The quiz
Answer at least the first two questions. Wings and waist decide most cases.
Probably a termite swarmer.
Equal wings and a thick waist are the two giveaways. A swarm inside usually means a mature colony is close. Don't spray them. Save a few in a zip bag, take photos, and read how to inspect your house before you call anyone.
Probably a flying ant.
Long front wings and a pinched waist point to ants. Carpenter ants can still damage wood, so check where they're coming from. But this isn't the termite emergency you were worried about.
Can't tell yet.
The answers point both ways. Catch one on clear tape, take a close photo next to a coin, and look at the wings again in good light. If you're still stuck, any licensed inspector can tell you in seconds.
The three differences, side by side
Cheat sheet
| Look at | Termite swarmer | Flying ant |
|---|---|---|
| Wings | Four, all the same length, snap off easily | Front pair clearly longer than the back pair |
| Waist | Thick and straight | Pinched, like a wasp |
| Antennae | Straight, like beads on a string | Bent at an elbow |
| Color | Usually dark brown to black; some kinds are pale tan | Black, brown or reddish |
| Left behind | Piles of identical wings | Wings rarely shed in piles |
Catch one first
Grab a winged bug on a strip of clear tape and stick it to white paper. You can look at it in good light, photograph it next to a coin, and show it to an inspector later. Look at a few, not one, because wings come off and bodies get squashed.
It's termites. Now what?
Don't spray them. The swarmers in your house are a few hundred out of a colony that's still in the soil or the wood, and bug spray won't touch it. Collect a few, photograph where they came from, then do a proper walk-through of your house before you call anyone.
Questions people ask
How can I tell a termite from a flying ant?
Check the wings and the waist. Termite swarmers have four equal-length wings and a thick, straight body. Flying ants have longer front wings and a narrow, pinched waist. The antennae help too: straight on termites, elbowed on ants.
Do flying ants mean termites?
No. Flying ants are ants leaving their nest to mate. Carpenter ants can damage wet wood, so find where they're coming from, but flying ants by themselves are not a sign of termites.
What does it mean if I find termite wings but no termites?
Swarmers shed their wings within minutes of landing, then either find a mate and a spot to start a colony or die. A pile of wings means a swarm happened nearby, often from a colony already in or under the house.