Termites

wildcat6 · #1 05/14/12, 08:00 AM

I hope I don't have them and I am not sure if I do. They look like little ants with wings. If they are termites does anyone have any good ways to get rid of them?

Silvercreek Farmer · #2 05/14/12, 08:14 AM

Are they in the house or the yard?

wildcat6 · #3 05/14/12, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silvercreek Farmer

Are they in the house or the yard?

They seem to congregating around the windows both indoor and out.

blooba · #4 05/14/12, 09:09 AM

look at em closely, ants have 3 sections of body while termites only have 2 sections.

either way they're not good and should be gotten rid of if they are in a structure

MO_cows · #5 05/14/12, 09:46 AM

Get an exterminator. We had a termite swarm, tried some of the DIY baits around the perimeter of the house. The next year, we had a bigger swarm and more damage done. Cheaper to get an exterminator than fix your structure!

wildcat6 · #6 05/14/12, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blooba

look at em closely, ants have 3 sections of body while termites only have 2 sections.

either way they're not good and should be gotten rid of if they are in a structure

Good to know. When I get home I will certainly check that out.

wildcat6 · #7 05/14/12, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MO_cows

Get an exterminator. We had a termite swarm, tried some of the DIY baits around the perimeter of the house. The next year, we had a bigger swarm and more damage done. Cheaper to get an exterminator than fix your structure!

I just hate to go through all the trouble of covering everything up, leaving for a night or two, and then washing everything back down. But, I guess we may have to do what we have to. I was really hoping I could find another way.

Wolf mom · #8 05/14/12, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wildcat6

I just hate to go through all the trouble of covering everything up, leaving for a night or two, and then washing everything back down. But, I guess we may have to do what we have to. I was really hoping I could find another way.

Read up on exterminating termites. If they're underground termites, they come up into the wood to feed during the day & exterminating them doesn't mean you have to cover everything up, washing everything down, etc.

A sign of underground termites are little tubes running up from the ground around the stem wall of your house.

Alice In TX/MO · #9 05/14/12, 12:02 PM

If you have termites, you REALLY need to have professionals take care of the problem.

poppy · #10 05/14/12, 08:12 PM

Get one and look at it closely. A termite will not be pinched in at the "waist" like an any. Termites also have straight antenna while ants have one that comes our a little and then angles off one direction or another, almost like an elbow. Termite wings are long and extend back past their rear end. Ants usually have shorter wings that extend out to their sides. Around doors are a common place to see both, especially if you have a concrete porch. Both will fly to light when they swarm and that is why you always find them in a window or door inside a house. An exterminator is a good idea but it can be costly. If your budget is tight, PM me and I'll tell you how to do it yourself. Good luck.

charged · #11 05/15/12, 01:46 PM

Both ants and termites have 4 wings. The 4 wings of the termites are equal length. The front wings of ants are longer than their hind wings.

That being said, if you haven't treated your house for termites in a long time, its time to do it. Where I live, termites are everywhere. If you do not treat your house for termites, you will have termites. When you call the exterminator, tell them you want them to use a product with the active ingredient Fipronil.