Termites are one of the most destructive pests you can find in your home, wreaking havoc that could cost you thousands in extermination costs and structural repairs.
However, many other insects can appear to be exactly like termites, and you don’t want to take any chances by assuming the infestation you see is harmless. This article will help you distinguish between them.
Mayflies
Mayflies are annoying insects that often congregate around houses and other structures at night. Since these insects are attracted to light sources, changing your house’s lights may help keep them away.
They can cause serious problems if they enter your home or business, so do everything possible to keep them out. Make sure your windows are closed securely and consider hiring a pest control professional for an inspection of the property and advice on the most effective way of eliminating them.
Adult mayflies are larger than flying termites and come in a range of colors. Typically yellowish, brown, or whitish, but they can also be black or greyish.
These bugs have wings that are transparent, with two front wings larger than the rear ones. This distinguishes them from flying termites.
The front wings also sport some coloration. Generally white, but they may also be black or brown depending on the species.
Another way to distinguish them is by looking at their antennae. Mayfly antennae are typically short and located in front of their bodies, while flying termites have longer antennae located at the back.
As the nymph develops, it lays eggs in water and then hatches. The nymphs live underwater until they molt into the subimago stage – when they first sprout wings.
Subimago stage: Nymphs are extremely vulnerable and weak during this stage, and may become preyed upon by predators unless they shed their outer skin and flew to a protected location where it will spend several days before molting into an adult mayfly.
Mayflies are an excellent indicator of water quality and environmental conditions, as they transport nutrients between aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, they serve as a food source for fish and other wildlife species. Furthermore, mayflies have the potential to serve as biological indicators of climate change since they tend to be affected by changes in weather patterns and are relatively easy to observe.
Green Lacewings
Green lacewings are beneficial insects that help maintain your garden’s health. They eat pests such as aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies and mites; additionally they protect plants from predators like ants.
Green lacewing adults measure between 1/2 and 3/4 inches in length, with long, slender bodies and four wings that give them a delicate appearance (Figure 1). They possess copper-colored eyes as well as elongated antennae for added attraction.
Lacewings belong to the Chrysopidae family, which includes 85 species in North America. These insect predators live in gardens and landscapes, fields, forests, and wildlands.
Lacewings tend to be predators, preying on soft-bodied insect pests and some fungi. They frequently consume honeydew produced by aphids and scale insects.
Their voracious appetite makes them an effective biological control for common pests, and their presence doesn’t alter the ecology of an area. While they eat insects and plant parts, they won’t harm your crops or pets.
These beneficial pests may be difficult to spot in your home, but you’ll know they’re there when you observe their distinctive shapes. Some even have wingspan greater than your waist!
They’re so hungry that they will attack the eggs and larvae of many insect pests. This includes aphids, spider mites, grubs, caterpillars, thrips, and whiteflies.
Contrary to termites, lacewings do not cause structural damage to your home. Nonetheless, they can still be an annoying pest; therefore, if you notice one in your residence it’s best to contact an exterminator immediately.
When the female lacewing lays her eggs, she attaches them to an egg-stalk that keeps the larvae away from other eggs once they hatch. Furthermore, this prevents the lacewing larvae from eating each other during development.
The green lacewing’s larvae, often referred to as “aphid lions,” are voracious eaters of insect eggs and make for some of the best predators around for aphids. With such an appetite, it’s no wonder why these pests have gained such a renowned name: they can consume any type of bug egg with ease!
Their predatory tactics may cause damage to your plants, but the benefits they provide are undeniable. They’ll eradicate aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, whiteflies, caterpillars, grubs and other pests so your gardens can recover healthy again!
Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants (Camponotus fuscescens) are insects that live in wood, such as trees and logs, as well as manmade structures. They don’t eat the wood itself but instead use it to carve tunnels and galleries for themselves to nest in.
Ants typically live outdoors in damp or decaying wood, such as tree stumps and logs; however, they can also be found inside homes where they build nests. You might find them inside window and door frames, along porch columns and steps, inside hollow beams, joists, and other wooden structures.
During mating season, female carpenter ants shed their wings and build a nest in moist soil. She then lays the first brood of eggs and takes care of them; additionally, she feeds the larvae while providing nourishment to sterile workers that take over excavating the nest and caring for young carpenter ants.
After several broods have hatched, the queen begins to lay even more eggs that are larger than her first batch and continues to feed them until they die. These adults become sterile workers in her nest and take responsibility for all other building tasks.
Carpenter ants typically build two types of nests: the parent colony, which contains the queen and her eggs, small larvae, sterile workers; and satellite colonies with older larvae and pupae. Carpenter ants may also construct a secondary nest when there is not enough room in their primary nest or when conditions are dry.
If you suspect a carpenter ant infestation, it is essential to eradicate the nest as quickly as possible. A pest control professional can identify which type of termite or carpenter ant is wreaking havoc and provide effective treatments.
One way to eliminate a carpenter ant nest is by treating it with bait. Common baits include fipronil, hydramethylnon, thiamethoxam, indoxacarb, abamectin and boric acid.
These baits not only kill the ants, but they’re also effective at keeping them away from your home, preventing an outbreak in the future. Combining chemical controls with baits should be used together for full elimination of your carpenter ant problem.
Flying Termites
Termites are one of the most destructive pests that invade homes, causing billions of dollars worth of destruction annually. Thankfully, they’re easy to spot.
Homeowners are always on the lookout for signs of infestation – such as broken washer taps or cracks in their foundation. Furthermore, they keep an eye out for termite nests in the soil beneath their homes.
These wood-eating pests can make your home their very own colony, and a termite swarm could be the most ominous sign you’ll ever see. These insects will scurry around your house in search of an ideal nesting location.
They may even swarm inside your home, feeding on the wood in your attic and basement. It’s essential to contact a termite inspector as soon as you notice signs of an infestation, since these pests spread rapidly and cause significant structural damage to your property.
Be on the lookout for termites that are swarming, especially during spring when they’re in their mating season. When termites swarm, it could indicate that there’s a colony nearby sending out reproductive termites to find new homes.
These swarmers will take flight and travel a short distance before landing. Here, they can mate and begin building their own colony. Eventually, however, these swarmers will lose their wings and perish.
Flying termites are unlike many other pests in that they do not pose a danger to people or pets. They won’t bite or sting you, and there is no indication they carry any disease with them.
Flying termites typically measure three-eighths of an inch in length, though they can be slightly smaller or larger. Their four wings extend far past their bodies and they possess short, straight antennae. Their thorax and abdomen share the same width, giving them a thick-waisted appearance.
They’re highly attracted to light, so you might spot them buzzing around near street lights or other bright locations. Additionally, termite swarms often occur at night during their mating season – if you’re experiencing a swarm, call for assistance immediately.