Bugs that look like ants are a common complaint that we get at our office. The reason is that there are many insects that not only look like ants, but termites as well. The most common mistaken identity comes with the following pests.
Termites
Termites are probably the most misidentified pest of all. The reason is that reproductive termites have wings, but so do all reproductive ants. Termites have four wings all of equal length, which they lose when they swarm. Below is what a common eastern subterranean termite with wings looks like.
The picture below shows worker termites. These insects also look like ants. Both are common in CT.
Stone flies
This is a commonly misidentified pest. It’s called a stone fly. The common stone fly is very long and slender. Their eggs are laid in the water where young stone flies spend the first portion of their life. They are a boom to the ecosystem as they are a food source for frogs and fish. Many homeowners call because the stone fly is truly one of those bugs that looks like an ant when in fact they are not. Stone flies do no damage and will likely disappear on their own.
Carpenter ants
The carpenter ant in Ct is also commonly misidentified. The reason is that many people assume that carpenter ants are all robust looking ants. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, carpenter ants come in all shapes and sizes just like people. In the carpenter ant world individuals are broken down into major and minor workers. The major workers are large and well fed. As for the minor workers they’re smaller and are typically the first ants in the brood. The picture below is of a carpenter ant major worker.
Many times in the pest control industry the internet is both a help and a harm. In this day and age anyone can look up a picture and misidentify a pest. Sometimes it would just be easier to call a pest control company and get a positive identification from the start.
If you have a pest problem and need help, call Envirocare Pest Control at 1-888-879-6481