Both insects:

• Live in colonies
• Have worker and reproductive castes
• Can swarm during warmer months
• Are similar in size

However, termites are more closely related to cockroaches, while ants belong to the wasp and bee family. Their behaviour, diet and impact on homes are very different.

You can identify termites by these features:

• Light cream or white body
• Straight antennae
• Thick, straight waist (no narrow “pinched” section)
• Soft-bodied appearance
• Winged termites (alates) have two pairs of wings equal in size

Swarming termites are often mistaken for flying ants. The wing size difference is one of the clearest ways to tell them apart.

Ants are common in Australian homes, especially during warmer months. Most species search widely for food and are attracted to sugary or greasy substances.

While many ants are a minor annoyance, certain species such as carpenter ants can damage timber.

What Do Ants Look Like?

Ants have several distinct features:

• Dark brown, red or black colour (varies by species)
• Elbowed antennae
• Visible eyes
• Body divided into three segments: head, thorax and gaster
• Narrow, pinched waist
• Winged ants have two pairs of wings that differ in size

The thin waist is the quickest way to tell an ant from a termite.

Carpenter ants are often confused with termites because both are found in timber.

The difference:

• Termites eat timber as a food source.
• Carpenter ants do not eat timber. They tunnel through damp or decaying wood to build nests.

One clear sign of carpenter ants is small piles of wood shavings (frass) near entry points. Termites consume the wood and instead leave mud-lined galleries.

• Mud tubes along walls or foundations
• Hollow-sounding timber
• Tight-fitting doors or windows
• Discarded wings indoors
• Bubbling paint or sagging timber

Termites work quietly behind walls, so visible signs often appear late.

If you notice flying insects inside your home, mud tubes, hollow timber or unexplained wood damage, arrange a professional inspection promptly.

Allstate Pest Control provides:

• Licensed termite inspections
• Detailed reporting
• Treatment options tailored to Australian conditions
• Ongoing termite management plans

Early detection helps reduce the risk of major structural repairs.

With 1 in every 5 homes thought to be affected by termites every year, termite attacks are common all around Australia, including Adelaide. Want to know if your place is next? See if your home ticks any of the following boxes:

Do you have wood or timber structures?

Termites thrive on cellulose as they have specialised digestive systems which can break it down into usable energy. Take note that they have a particularly strong appetite for untreated wood, soft, moist and rotting wood.

Are there sources of moisture present?

From damp soil, piles of mulch and overgrown vegetation to leaky plumbing and air conditioning units, termites require moisture to survive.

Does your home provide enough warmth?

Since their optimum temperature is above 25 degrees, termites will be particularly drawn to your home in the cooler months of the year.

Spring is the most active season for termite swarming, which is often triggered by the warmer temperatures and rain. It’s an indication that there’s a mature colony nearby and it’s looking for a suitable spot to establish a new colony.

If you’re wondering what termites look like when they’re swarming around your home, check carefully for shed wings on the floor or around window sills and doors. Each termite pair will shed 8 wings in total.

Probably the most dreaded sign of a termite outbreak, and no doubt the most stressful and expensive to deal with, is the physical damage that they cause. Although wood is their preferred food source, other cellulose-rich products around your home are also at risk of a termite attack, including insulation, carpet, paper, cardboard, textiles, drywall and upholstery.

What does termite damage look like?

• Crumbly timber beams
• Warped door and window frames which make doors and windows difficult to open and shut
• Peeling and blistering paint
• Bubbling wallpaper
• Sagging and warping in floors and ceilings
• Creaking, uneven steps

Termites can forage over great distances in search of food, so even if you may not have a nest close by just yet, it doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually make their way over. Still, you can always be prepared, right? We recommend taking the following actions to protect your home from termites:

Minimise excess moisture

Regularly inspect your home for leakages in plumbing. Don’t forget to check your air-conditioning units as well. Make sure that the soil in your yard is well drained. If you have a basement or crawl spaces, ensure that they are dry and well ventilated.

Seal entry points inside your home

Most termites are only a few millimetres long, so they’re able to squeeze inside small cracks, holes and gaps to enter your home. Look for any vulnerable access points around your home, and fill them quickly.

Regular garden maintenance

Tending to your garden is important in minimising the chance of attracting termites. Here’s how:

• Removing fallen branches
• Trimming overgrown plants that may be touching the sides of your house
• Keeping your gutters clear from leaf litter and twigs

Take care to avoid damaging existing termite barriers if you take on DIY landscaping projects.

Remove wood-based objects from your yard

Termites prefer certain types of wood over others because they are often harder to digest, or might even be toxic. You might notice they avoid teak, redwood, cypress and heartwood.

Nevertheless, reducing the number of potential food sources, regardless of the type of wood, will help a great deal in deterring termites overall. We suggest:

• Removing old rotten tree stumps
• Storing woodpiles a safe distance away from your house off the ground
• Replace wooden garden sleepers with concrete, composite or steel dividers, or stones and pavers

Wood treatments

Protect your wooden furniture from termites by applying a waterproof wood treatment that is readily absorbed.

Regular termite inspections: your best chance against termites

Without the proper equipment, skills and training, it’s hard to spot a termite outbreak. To avoid the devastating damage that they can unleash on your family home, government guidelines recommend a yearly inspection carried out by a licensed termite inspector, in accordance with Australian standards.

If you live in a high-risk area, having more frequent checks may be even safer.

When termites are on the loose inside your home, there’s nothing stopping them, unless you act fast.

With Allstate Pest Control, you won’t be left wondering how to know if you have termites before it’s too late. We’ve successfully resolved termite infestations across all suburbs of Adelaide since 1986. Whether you’re in a residential, commercial or industrial setting, our team of licensed termite inspectors will detect early signs of termites in houses create a tailored treatment plan using the most up-to-date termite control measures.

Reach out to our friendly customer service consultants for effective protection against the earliest signs of termites, right at their source.