Termite swarmers or ants? A fall ant swarm may actually be ants.

 Each fall we get calls for termites that are actually citronella ants.  The eastern subterranean termite is a spring swarming insect.  Fall ant swarms are normally citronella ants and that can be easily verified by crushing a few between your fingers and smelling the distinctive lemony citronella scent.  This ant Lasius interjectus generally does not forage inside a home and is rarely seen inside or out.  The nest sites are often in rotting wood logs and stumps and under stones.  They will be adjacent to and under foundations, especially stone or brick foundations and will often swarm on a humid fall afternoon, but will also swarm in the spring.  The eastern subterranean termite can be ruled out not only by the time of year (spring and not fall), the ant has a pinched waist versus the termite a thick waist, the ant has two different length of wings and the termite has equal length wings.

If you’re wondering about whether you have termite swarmers or ants, call the experts at Greenhow and get a free consultation.