Both are bad. One is way worse.
If you're seeing winged insects swarming inside your house in spring, you've got either carpenter ants or termites. Telling them apart in 30 seconds can save you thousands of dollars.
The 30-second visual ID
| Feature | Carpenter Ant | Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Body shape | Pinched waist | Straight, no waist |
| Antennae | Bent (elbowed) | Straight, beadlike |
| Wings | Front wings longer than back | All four wings the same length |
| Color | Usually black | Pale, cream-colored |
If you can see the insect clearly:
- Pinched waist + bent antennae → carpenter ant
- No waist + straight antennae + pale color → termite
Both leave evidence — but different evidence
Carpenter ants leave "frass"
Frass is sawdust-like wood shavings mixed with insect parts. You'll find small piles below ceiling cracks, baseboards, or window frames. Carpenter ants don't eat wood — they just excavate it.
Termites leave mud tubes
Pencil-thin tubes of dirt and saliva, usually running up the inside of a basement wall or around the foundation. Subterranean termites build them to travel safely between soil and the wood they're eating.
What it costs you
Carpenter ants
- $400–$900 for treatment in most Bucks County homes
- Damage is real but slow (years, not months)
- Almost always tied to a moisture problem you also need to fix
Termites
- $1,500–$3,000+ for treatment plus typically $30,000–$60,000+ for repair if left untreated
- Damage can be severe in 1–2 years
- Requires a full termite inspection, baiting system, and annual monitoring
When to call us
If you're not sure what you're seeing, bag one of the insects (clear ziplock works) and call us. We'll identify it for free. If it's carpenter ants, we treat them. If it's termites, we'll refer you to a licensed termite specialist immediately — we don't do termite work because it's a specialized treatment that deserves a specialist.
For carpenter ants, we cover Doylestown, Newtown, Yardley, New Hope, and every other town in our service area.