Holes in walls are among the scariest things you can find in your home because they are typically a sign of termite infestation. However, you can discover other bugs that look like Flying termites. Some may cause similar damage, while others are harmless.
Be aware that these harmless insects’ differentiation can make the difference of thousands of dollars. Therefore, it is recommended to correctly identify bugs in your walls before spending money on professional extermination and house repair.
Bugs looking like flying termites |
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Type | Length | Color |
Termites | 0.25 to 0.50 inches
(6.35 – 12.7 mm) |
White, reddish, light brown, or black |
Acrobat ants | 0.10 to 0.13 inches
(2.6 – 3.2 mm) |
Yellow, light red, dark brown, or black |
Powderpost beetles | 0.16 to 0.75 inches
(4 – 19 mm) |
Light brown to reddish-brown and black |
Mayflies | 0.25 to 1.10 inches
(6.35 –Â 28 mm) |
White, gray, yellow, or brown with pale wings |
Carpenter ants | 0.50 to 1 inch
(12.7 – 25.4 mm) |
Reddish-black, light brown, or black |
Flying ants | 0.75 inches
(19 mm) |
Reddish-brown or black |
Green lacewings | 0.75 inches
(19 mm) |
Light green with lacy wings |
Carpenter bees | 0.75 to 1 inch
(19 – 25 mm) |
Shiny black with yellow patches |
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Flying Termites
Termites are 0.25 to 0.50 inches (6.35 – 12.7 mm) long bugs with differently colored bodies, depending on the species. You can distinguish white, reddish, light brown, or black ones.
Their rectangular bodies with two segments have wide thoraxes and oblong abdomens without waists. Four wings are the same size and twice as long as their bodies, while short and straight antennae are placed on the oval, pear-like heads.
Approximately 45 termite species live in the US, differentiated into three primary types:
1. Subterranean termites
You can find this species in the soil, building more sizable nests than any other insect type in North America. They live throughout the US besides Alaska.
Sub-types
- Formosan, living in the South States
- Arid-land, living on West Coast, Midwest, Southwest, South, and Rocky Mountain States
- Eastern, living on the East Coast, Midwest, and Southeast
- Dark southeastern, living on the East Coast
- Western, living in Washington, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and California
- Desert, living in Southern Arizona and Southeastern California
2. Drywood termites
This termite species typically live in dead trees, hardwood floors, and structural timbers without any contact with soil. They are commonly found in homes.
Sub-types
- Southeastern, living in Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, and Florida
- Western, living in California and Arizona
- Desert, living in Southeastern California and Arizona
3. Dampwood termites
These termites live in high-moisture wood without much contact with the soil. It is unlikely to find them in the house.
Sub-types
- Florida, living in the Florida Keys and South Florida
- Nevada, living in Nevada, Montana, and Idaho
- Desert, living in the Southwest
- Pacific, living in California, Washington, and Oregon
4. Other termite types
- Conehead, living in the Caribbean and Florida
- Desert, living in New Mexico, West Texas, and Arizona
Termites’ life cycle starts with eggs, larvae, and mature molting nymphs and finishes with adults that appear in three forms:
- Workers that dig tunnels
- Soldiers that protect the colony
- Flying termites (Alates) that reproduce
As you can see, Flying termites are one of the termite forms that live less than 24 hours. They have only one purpose, to lay eggs and remain wingless after that.
Termites feed on wood, plant-based products, and paper and infest finished and unfinished wood. Holes they make in the wood are chewed-look and rough, and the result of their work is tiny black fecal pellets.
These horrible menaces can ruin your home. Believe it or not, one colony can consume over 100 pounds (45 kg) of wood annually and cause damage worth at least $9,000.
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Bugs That Look Like Flying Termites
There are a few insect species reminding Flying termites. Some also damage wood, with and without feeding on it. On the other hand, some of these bugs are harmless for your home or even beneficial. Let’s take a look.
1. Flying ants
Flying ants are mature, reproductive, reddish-brown or black insects, long about 0.75 inches (19 mm). However, their size can significantly vary, depending on the species.
Termites vs. Flying ants |
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Trait | Termites | Flying ants |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Irregular with three distinct parts |
Waist | None | Narrow |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Bent |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Food debris |
Habitat | Their own nests | Males die after mating, while queens start new colonies in old stumps and hollow trees |
These bugs develop wings before looking for a new nesting site and fly in swarms only during the mating season. Then, they build a new colony. Most flying ant species don’t feed on or damage wood but prefer attacking food debris.
2. Carpenter ants
Reddish-black, light brown, or black Carpenter ants are typically 0.50 to 1-inch (12.7 – 25.4 mm) long insects. They can fly and swarm during the mating season like termites. Once you see them, you can be sure that the infestation has lasted 3 to 4 years, followed by considerable damage.
Termites vs. Carpenter ants |
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Trait | Termites | Carpenter ants |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Three-segmented |
Thorax | Wide | Narrow and tapered |
Abdomen | Straight and oblong | Round and large |
Waist | None | Thin and pinched with a node |
Wing size | Twice as long as the body | As long as the body |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Bent (elbowed) and segmented |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Arthropods, insect honeydew, fruit juices, eggs, meat, and grease |
The wood they infest | Finished and unfinished | Moist, decaying, and damaged wood, stumps, timber, or soil |
The hole look | Rough and chewed-look | Tiny and smooth |
Piles they leave | Tiny black fecal pellets | Cone-like piles of shredded wood (frass) |
Be careful with these insects since they have powerful jaws and can bite when feeling threatened. Additionally, the formic acid they sometimes spray into the wound increases the pain.
These bugs damage wood by making tiny and smooth holes and leaving frass, cone-like piles of shredded wood inside. However, they don’t eat wood like termites.
3. Acrobat ants
Acrobat ants are 0.10 to 0.13 inches (2.6 – 3.2 mm) long insects with yellow, light red, dark brown, or black bodies.
Termites vs. Acrobat ants |
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Trait | Termites | Acrobat ants |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Three-segmented |
Thorax | Wide | Narrow |
Abdomen | Straight and oblong | Heart-shaped with a stinger |
Waist | None | Cinched |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Bent (elbowed) |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Honeydew, various insects, mealybugs |
Habitat | Their own nests | Other pests’ old nests |
The wood they infest | Finished and unfinished | Moist wood and foam insulation |
Piles they leave | Tiny black fecal pellets | Bits of insulation and wood or dirt-like debris |
They release a foul odor, bite, and behave weirdly when feeling threatened. In such situations, you can see them with lifted abdomens and legs in the air while standing on their heads.
Acrobat ants choose moist wood, wall cracks, and foam insulation as habitats and can sometimes cause electrical wiring issues. Unlike termites, these bugs never dig holes but nest in wood tunnels built by carpenter ants or termites.
4. Carpenter bees
Carpenter bees are bumblebees-like, 0.75 to 1-inch (19 – 25 mm) long insects with shiny black bodies dotted with yellow patches on the thorax. You can find them across the southern and eastern US.
Termites vs. Carpenter bees |
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Trait | Termites | Carpenter bees |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Round, chubby |
Abdomen | Straight and oblong | Hairless (patent leather butt) |
Waist | None | Fat middle |
Wing size | Twice as long as the body | Shorter than a body |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Long, elbowed |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Nectar and pollen |
Habitat | Their own nests | Live independently in tunnels |
The wood they infest | Finished and unfinished | Untreated, weathered wood |
The hole look | Rough and chewed-look | Sizable, round, kick-out |
Piles they leave | Tiny black fecal pellets | Sawdust piles and sticky yellow waste |
Unlike termites living in colonies, you can spot only one Carpenter bee at a time. They are independent creatures that prefer unfinished, weathered, and unpainted softwoods like cedar, redwood, pine, cypress, and oak.
These insects build tunnels inside the wood to settle their nests for laying eggs, leaving so-called kick-out holes 0.50 inches (12.7 mm) in diameter. They leave sticky yellow waste while making holes without much damage on wooden surfaces.
5. Powderpost beetles
Powderpost beetles are light brown to reddish-brown and black bugs, approximately 0.16 to 0.75 inches (4 – 19 mm) in length. Swarming beetles have rigid, shell-like front wings, while a rear pair is for flying.
Termites vs. Powderpost beetles |
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Trait | Termites | Powderpost beetles |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Slender and cylindrical |
Wing size | Twice as long as the body | The same as a body |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Rigid, shell-like front wings and rear wings used for flying |
Antennae | Short and straight | Short and serrated |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Sapwood, the soft outer wood layer |
Habitat | Their own nests | Their own nests |
The wood they infest | Finished and unfinished | Damp and unfinished |
The hole look | Rough and chewed-look | Tiny |
Piles they leave | Tiny black fecal pellets | Fine wooden flower-like powder |
Larvae live and feed on hardwoods, like oak, hickory, cherry, poplar, walnut, and ash, causing significant structural damage. Anobiid powderpost beetle is the only species infesting both softwoods and hardwoods.
Adults use holes in wood only for laying eggs. Unfortunately, they are nocturnal insects (active at night), so it is unlikely to see them during the day.
You can see pinhead-sized holes, 0.03 to 0.12 inches (0.76 – 3 mm) in diameter, which number depends on the present larvae’ number. They are surrounded by fine wooden flower-like powder.
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6. Mayflies
Mayflies are 0.25 to 1.10 inches (6.35 – 28 mm) long bugs with white, gray, yellow, or brown bodies and pale wings. They typically live, develop, and lay eggs in freshwater, including lakes, rivers, marshes, and swamps.
Termites vs. Mayflies |
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Trait | Termites | Mayflies |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Slender and cylindrical |
Thorax | Wide | Three-segmented |
Abdomen | Straight and oblong | Long and thin with 2 to 3 tails at the end |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings slightly longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Short, barely visible |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Tiny aquatic animals, underwater plants, algae, and debris |
You can quickly confuse them with termites because they also swarm, but adults are twice as long as termites. Besides, they have a long abdomen with 2 to 3 characteristic thin tails at the end.
These bugs are annoying and sometimes settle on your patio deck or next to the door and window. However, they neither cause any harm to wood nor bite humans and animals. You can expect them to be highly active during hot summer days, particularly after rain.
7. Green lacewings
Green lacewings are typically 0.75 inches (19 mm) long and have a light green, cylindrical body with lacy wings and downward-hanged head. However, their color changes to brown in winter.
Termites vs. Green lacewings |
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Trait | Termites | Green lacewings |
Body shape | Rectangular with two segments | Slender and cylindrical with a downward-hanged head |
Abdomen | Straight and oblong | Long, slender, and thin |
Wing size | Twice as long as the body | Longer than a body |
Front and rear wing ratio | Same size | Front wings slightly longer than rear |
Antennae | Short and straight | Long and thin |
Feed on | Wood, plant-based products, paper | Honeydew, pollen, nectar, and aphids |
Habitat | Their own nests | Field and tree crops |
These insects live in gardens, swamps, fields, tropical rainforests, and forests without causing any damage to wood. On the contrary, they are highly beneficial in gardens where feeding on pests like aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. Green lacewings have near-transparent wings, unlike Flying termites’ opaque wings.
Summary
Termites are pest insects that can cause irreparable damage to your home. However, you should be careful when identifying bugs infesting your home because a simple mistake can cost you thousands of dollars. Always check found insects and compare them before calling professionals to eliminate them.