1. Identify the termite or ant
2. Locate the source of the termites
3. Remove the source attracting the termites
4. Schedule a treatment to kill the remaining termites
To protect your home from all insects our Insect Prevention Plan or IPP is the best option
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to schedule an appointment call or send us an email
Call Us Today! 952-404-BOGO (2646)
Misidentifying Termites with Winged Carpenter Ants
Winged Termites
Winged termites can grow to be between 0.25-0.4 inches in length. Their bodies are oval-shaped. Their bodies are dark brown or black. Their heads are darker in color. They have 2 short straight antennas. Each termite has 2 sets of wings that are all the same size. Each wing is around 1 inch in length.
Winged Carpenter Ants
Winged carpenter ants are either male or female. They have 2 sets of wings. Each set is made up of a large wing in the front and a small wing in the back. They can vary from black, brown, or reddish brown. Male carpenter ants are around 0.7-0.75 inches in length. Female carpenter ants are between 0.75-0.8 inches in length. Their bodies are unevenly shaped and have narrow waists between their thorax and abdomen. From above their bodies look like an 8. They also have elbowed antennas. The antennas bend to close to a 90-degree angle.
Termites in Minnesota
Termite Range Map
Luckily for Minnesota residents, it’s rare to see termites this far up North. The temperatures are too cold for them to survive. But this doesn’t mean it’s impossible to see them. If you are seeing termites they most likely hitchhiked their way into the state. It’s possible to bring pests and insects in from furniture or food that came from out of state. The termites that are found this far north are often dry-wood termites.
Termite Behavior
Drywood termites need to feed on wood to survive. They have special bacteria in their stomachs to help them digest the wood. By being able to digest the wood their bodies can absorb the necessary nutrients and cellulose from the wood. After digesting they lay small droppings around 1mm in length. They are oval-shaped pellets. They are often described as looking like dark grains of sand or ground pepper. These termites live in large colonies that can grow up to 5000+ members. The only time they are not living in the wood is if they are swarming during mating season. This takes place in the middle of summer. Ants also swarm at the same time.
To learn more about termites click the link to the United States Environmental Protection Agency
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To protect your home from all insects our Insect Prevention Plan or IPP is the best option
If you have any questions or concerns or would like to schedule an appointment call or send us an email
Call Us Today! 952-404-BOGO (2646)
