Bugs That Look Like Termites: Explore Cool Insects Around Your Home!

Termites are usually considered pests in many areas.

Even though they are not really related to ants in any manner, they are still mistaken for white ants. They commonly feed on products made out of wood and wooden structures.

Termites have a segmented body and may or may not have wings, depending on which part of the world they are found in. They feed on wooden products like furniture, eaves, and home overhangs, causing damage to their shape and structural integrity.

They are known to dig tunnels and build colonies inside the structure of the product they are infesting, commonly known as a termite infestation, which is why the foundation of the entire structure becomes extremely brittle and fragile.

However, their appearance is not very unique. There are quite a few other bugs that have a very similar body and are mistaken for termites.

Apart from appearance, other supposed pests also possess certain characteristics that resemble those of termites and hence lead people into believing that they are termites when they are not.

These qualities are that they are arranged in a chain of command and build and live in colonies. These features are what make other bugs look like termites, prompting some people to even opt for pest control measures that might apply to termites but prove to be ineffective!

Bugs That Look Like Termites But Are Not Termites

There are multiple varieties of termites throughout the world. They are found in almost every type of climatic condition, especially in places that are humid.

They vary in shapes and sizes. Types, such as swarming termites, have been known to be as big as eight in (20.3 cm) in size. Before learning about the insects that are similar in appearance to termites, let's find out how termites actually look.

There are hundreds of species of termites, and most of them look remarkably similar to each other. But they are all different in some way, which is not visible on the surface.

These nuances are what make every termite species unique. Termites are generally 0.25-0.5 in (0.63-1.27 cm) in size and length.

The ones in Victoria, Australia, can grow up to 5.6 inches in terms of body size. They have long and straight antennae and have a very soft, long, and flat body.

As far as their colors are concerned, every species differs. While carpenter ants and acrobat ants are usually white and black, others, such as the powderpost beetle and carpenter bee, come in various shades of brown and sometimes even a darker shade of yellow.

Regarding the insects which look like termites, there are quite a few that come under this list. To begin with, carpenter ants are the ones that are most often mistaken for termites.

Carpenter ants have physical attributes which resemble termites. They all co-exist in one colony together. They also have a black and brown color, similar to termites, and are around the same size and length as them.

Like worker termites, carpenter ants also do not have sets of wings. However, those higher up in the hierarchy do have two sets of wings, causing confusion for some people. Powderpost beetles are another type of bug which has an uncanny resemblance to termites.

They look almost the same in terms of size and color, but powderpost beetles are found in moist wood, unlike termites. They are active during the night, which is why they are mistaken for subterranean termites.

Along with carpenter ants and the powderpost beetle, there is the carpenter bee, flying ants, and acrobat ants, which come next on the list. All of them share a similar color and appearance, are around the same size and length and infest wooden structures to feed on wood.

The most common way to get rid of all of them is also similar: pest control!

What bugs look like termites with wings?

There are certain species of termites that have wings. There are also some bugs that have wings that look like winged termites. These are more commonly sighted than winged termites, which is why, if termites enter and infest your home, you may mistake them for these other winged insects.

These insects are not as destructive as termites but look quite similar and have a striking resemblance in terms of characteristics. Flying ants are considered the closest lookalikes of termites but with wings.

They are so similar that it is hard to differentiate between them unless observed closely. They are almost 0.7 in (1.77 cm) long and black or brown in color, with two antennae on their heads.

Just like flying termites, flying ants are also alates, meaning they are reproductive forms of carpenter ants. They also build their nests inside wooden structures and leave them for some time after.

They do not feed on wood, however. Their only purpose in drilling the wood is to make space for them to lay eggs.

The larvae, as a result, are left inside the wood, contributing massively to structural damage. Just like flying termites, they only move in swarms and look for new wooden structures to lay their eggs in post-mating.

Mayflies are another type of bug that looks like termites with wings. Even though they may not appear to be so visibly similar, they do exhibit similar behaviors.

Mayflies are most active during spring and summer, move in swarms and become extremely active during monsoon, post-rain, just like flying termites. In size and color, however, they do appear a little different from flying termites, with a larger size and more widespread color scheme of their bodies with two sets of wings.

What flying bugs in the house look like termites?

There are so many flying insects out there. We quite often confuse and mistake one for another because of their similar appearances and sizes. Flying bugs are common among many varieties of insects.

To start with, winged carpenter ants have two pairs of wings that make them look like flying termites, with the only point of difference being that carpenter ants have a front wing that is longer than their rear wings, while termites have two sets of equal size.

The same goes for flying ants, with their front wings looking longer than their rear wings.

Acrobat ants also share the same physical structure as these two, having larger front wings.

Carpenter bees have a very different structure compared to termites.

Ants and termites have similar physical features, but when it comes to bees, especially carpenter bees, their wings extend narrowly towards their backs, whereas termites have their wings spread out wide. Not to mention, carpenter bees have only a single set of wings.

It is also worth mentioning that most female carpenter bees have slightly wider wings than male winged carpenter bees. Then there are powderpost beetles with their narrow wings extending from their sides, which do not exactly resemble a termite's wing but are easily confused from a distance.

Most of these bugs have a dark brown color on their bodies, which makes them appear to be termites. As a result, people usually try to eliminate them by using termite control and pest control measures, but this will be useless.

What bugs look like termites and live in trees?

Most of the aforementioned insects that resemble termites are usually found living or causing an infestation in trees. Termites and ants mostly build nests with their colonies in trees. But there are certain other insects that appear like a termite and live in trees.

Most of these bugs often appear to be like the subterranean termite with bent antennae. However, they are completely different.

The most common insect to be mistaken as a termite is an ant. Even though there are stark differences between the two, they appear almost the same in shape and size to the naked human eye.

Carpenter ants also live in trees, mostly causing an infestation in humid environments because it is easier to tear through the wet bark of a tree.

Along with carpenter ants, powderpost beetles are again mostly found living in trees. They make a tunnel inside a tree as they feed through it, breaking the wood down into a powder-like substance.

All of this happens under the surface of the tree. They can cause severe damage to wooden furniture and other wooden objects in a house in cases of house infestation.

The same goes for carpenter bees.

Carpenter bees do not cause an infestation, but they are known for the damage they cause to wood while boring a hole through it. The female carpenter bee mostly does this for the purpose of laying an egg inside the tree, causing cosmetic and even structural damage.

There are several other bugs and insects that live in trees and are mistaken as species of termites or common pests. These types of insects can cause a great deal of damage to wood and wooden products in a house and are usually eliminated using pest elimination chemicals.

The powderpost beetle, all types of ant (be they carpenter ants or acrobat ants) and carpenter bees all greatly resemble termites, especially subterranean termites, in shape and body size, as well as the type of damage they do to trees, wood, and wooden household products. Hence, people mistaking them for termites is bound to happen!