Was I watching: ants or termites? -- bees or wasps?

Animal Facts: Pick another animal or return to overview:

Gray Squirrel

Mockingbird

Ants*

Sparrow

Bees*

Termites*

Pigeons

Sand Wasps*

Dragonflies

Starling

Wasps*

Other
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Was I watching ANTS or TERMITES??

Although somewhat similar in appearance, ants and termites are very different organisms. Check their separate pages to get some details. Here are two drawings to help see the morphological differences.

Ants - here a winged reproductive -- worker ants look like this minus the wings.
  • Usually black or red or mixed red and black.
  • Note "wasp waist" -- the junction between the thorax and abdomen is usually narrow.
  • The workers look like they have a head, thorax and abdomen.

Termites -- here a winged reproductive -- workers look like this minus the wings.
  • Usually they are white or pale yellow.
  • Seldom see above ground except as reproductives with wings.
  • Note the lack of a clear "waist". They look as if they have a head and a body.

Soldiers have a larger, darker head. ===>

This pdf file will help you tell them apart -- ant/termite

 

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