7 Bugs That Look Like Termites and How to Identify Them

You may have heard of termites before, but did you know that there are actually several different types of insects that look or work exactly like termites? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at different types of bugs that look like termites. These insects are often mistaken for termites, but there are a few key differences that set them apart.

How To Identify Bugs That Look Like Termites

There are many bugs that can resemble termites, making it difficult to identify the pests without a closer inspection. Some tips on how to tell the difference between them. Here are seven of the most common ones:

1. Carpenter Ants

These ants love to build their nests in wood, and they can quickly infest an entire house if they’re not properly managed. Sometimes, they will leave behind trails of white wax that look like termite droppings. They do not destroy wood, unlike termites, and instead discard a substance that resembles sawdust.

2. Cigarette Beetles

These beetles feed on tobacco leaves and other plants, and they can easily spread the fungus that causes the tobacco mosaic virus throughout a building. They often leave behind small mounds of soil that look like termite burrows.

3. Brown Recluse Spiders

This spider is known for its venomous bite, and it can rapidly spread dangerous arachnid diseases through your home if it’s not treated correctly. Some brown recluse spiders also have what looks like a termite mound on their backs—making them even more difficult to identify!

4. Flying Ants

Any species of mature reproductive ant will have wings so they can fly away, locate a new nesting place, mate, and establish a new colony. Only during mating season, which occurs throughout the warm months of the year, do ants fly.

Like termites, flying ants travel in swarms. Some homeowners fear the worst when they witness swarms of insects. But these are the simplest techniques to distinguish between flying ants and termites. They set the colony’s humidity, temperature, the quantity of wind, and the time for dawn to break.

5. Powderpost Beetles

This creature got its name because of its propensity to ram into the wood and grind it into fine wood powder. Just to be clear, their larvae are the ones who cause this harm. Powderpost beetles in their adult stages do not cause much harm. Pinholes in wooden buildings are a sign that the adults have come out.

Powderpost beetles consume wood, just like termites, and can cause serious structural damage if neglected. In order to reduce damage to your home, you should still call an exterminator as soon as you can, even if you determine that the bugs in your house are powderpost beetles rather than termites.

6. Acrobat Ants

Because they can lift their abdomen over their heads or thorax, this species of ant derives its name. When they feel threatened or unsettled, they frequently act in this way. Although they are rarely a reason for alarm, they do have a propensity for biting when startled.

They can be found even at high altitudes, are made up of many species, and are lustrous brown and black in appearance (sometimes even multicolored). At 3.2 mm, worker acrobat ants are the tiniest. At 10 mm, the queen acrobat ant is small. They can be identified mostly by their six legs and heart-shaped belly, with flat, segmented bodies.

7. Wood Borer

There are numerous borers that prey on wood. Insects called borer larvae, or grubs, are the ones who actually do the damage. Both termites and borers attack the wooden components of homes’ structural frames, although they are completely different creatures. Finding them and determining which bug is the problem may take some time.

What To Do When You Have A Termite Infestation

If you think you have a termite problem, it is important to act fast. Termites can cause a lot of damage to your property if they are left untreated. Here are some things you can do if you think you have a termite infestation:

• Try do-it-yourself solutions. If you want to try to get rid of termites yourself, there are a few things you can do. You can try baiting them with food that they like or using traps. However, these methods are not always effective and may not work for all types of termites.
• Take preventive measures. One way to prevent termites from coming back is to make sure there is no food source for them. This means removing any wood or other materials from around your property that could be potential food sources for termites. You should also keep your property free of moisture as much as possible, as termites require moisture to survive.
• Contact a pest control professional. The best way to get rid of termites. A pest control professional will be able to identify the type of termites you have and develop a treatment plan.

Conclusion

Some of these insects look exactly like termites, and some even act like termites, but they are not termites. We have explained all the bugs that look like termites, and people often misunderstand these. So now you know the difference between them.

Now when you are able to distinguish between these insects & you found out that the insect you see in your home, is actually a termite, check out our complete guide on How to identify Termites in The House and follow all the processes for further assistance. Feel free to share this post on your social media accounts. And let us know about your feedback.

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