What are the differences between ants and termites?
Ants and termites are sometimes mistaken for each other, however they are very different insect groups. Several key features help to identify them correctly.
Antennae
- Ants: Elbowed.
- Termites: Simple string of bead-like segments.
Eyes
- Ants: Compound eyes present.
- Termites: No eyes.
Waist (called a pedicel, found between thorax and abdomen)
- Ants: Present.
- Termites: Absent.
Abdomen
- Ants: Pointed at end.
- Termites: Blunt at end.
Castes
Both ants and termites can be divided up into several ‘castes’, which depend upon their roles in the colony.
Workers
- Ants: Sexually undeveloped females.
- Termites: Sexually undeveloped males and females.
Soldiers
- Ants: Are workers and may have dual role.
- Termites: Sexually undeveloped males and females. There are two possible body forms: mandibulate (jawed) and nasute (long-nosed), depending on species.
Reproductives (winged)
- Both ants and termites can have a winged stage in their reproductive cycle.
- Ants: Fore/hind wings unequal, strongly veined
- Termites: Fore/hind wings equal, no obvious veins
Life cycle
- Ants: Complete metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa, adult
- Termites: Incomplete metamorphosis: egg, nymph, adult (no pupal stage)
Diet
- Ants: ants are scavengers, with different species foraging for different foods. Some ants live within damp/decaying wood, but do not actually eat the wood.
- Termites: termites are plant tissue specialists, feeding on wood and grasses, and some species can cause extensive damage to buildings and trees through their feeding and nesting habits.
Scientific classification
- Ants: Order Hymenoptera, Family Formicidae
- Termites: Order Isoptera, several families
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Andrew Howells
© Australian Museum
Termite View full size
Andrew Howells
© Australian Museum
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3 comments
Ophelia Smith
5.07 PM, 09 July 2010
Excelent information showing the differences between the Ants and the Termites. You made it easy for my students to prepare a Venn Diagram...Thank you!
bpslibrary
3.11 PM, 28 November 2009
A useful article which is easy to understand,
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