If you’re not a pest control expert, you may have a standard policy for all bugs—keep them out the house! However, knowing the difference between some of the most common critters may work to your advantage since it’s easy to confuse certain species of ants and beetles with termites. Use the following guide to learn how they differ and keep your home pest-free.

Learning the Difference Between Termites, Ants & Beetles

1. Carpenter Ants

Most frequently confused with beetles and termites, these insects live in colonies run by queens and create traveling trails between their main base and satellite colonies. Unlike termites, carpenter ants don’t eat wood, they dig and shove it aside to enlarge their nests. To identify this critter, look for black or reddish brown bugs with defined waists and jointed antennae, as well as the tiny wood shavings they leave behind.

2. Beetles

Beetles that bore into wood have flat, narrow bodies, six legs, and are reddish-brown or black. When they burrow into wood, they produce a fine powder instead of shavings. To confirm the presence of this pest in your home, look for tiny exit holes in wood objects or sawdust around them.

3. Termites

Depending on their status in the colony, termites can be beige, black, or beige with brown heads, and they may or may not have wings. You might spot these critters in wood floors or molding, or swarming outside of your house. They eat wood, damaged wood furniture, so shavings are also a sign of termite trouble. Since they tend to travel underground, you might be able to pinpoint an infestation by spotting mud tubes leading to your home.

If you want to prevent pests from infesting your property, get in touch with the experts at  Dick’s Fumigation Services of Wailuku, HI. With over 65 years of experience, their team uses the highest quality of equipment to track termites in walls and helps the community with tent fumigation, as well as spot checking smaller areas. For more information regarding ant or termite treatment, visit the website, or call (808) 244-7496 to schedule an appointment.