Why should you be able to know if it is ants or termites that you see? One reason is the cost of pest control that you will hire. Getting rid of ants can be done yourself by tracing the ant trail and burning the nest. Finding termite nests is much tougher as they can hide buried deep in the ground. That is why you should hire professional pest control companies to provide expert assistance.

So how can you spot a termite from an ant? There are currently hundreds of termite species and they differ in traits and appearance. The rank of a termite in its colony can also be told from its physical appearance.

While ants are usually little and black in color except for red ants which will not be mistaken for termites, termites can range in different shades of brown. Queen termites are usually the ones with different colors, but you would not need to know them too well as they are often found only within termite nests. They also have more wings than other termite ranks. Four large wings compared to the usual two.

Soldier termites on the other hand are commonly in a shade of yellowish brown. These are the termites which can hurt you, with huge powerful mandibles. Their heads are also larger than the termites of other ranks.

Finally, worker termites are the tiniest of the line because of their function. They are also easy to differentiate from ants. Worker termites are white in color. They are the ones that you would normally see in your wooden furniture, attacking and breaking down your home as they gather food and material for their nests and colonies.

From the above, you should have an easier job of telling the difference between ants and termites. Remember that it is important that you know, as termites are more dangerous and difficult to get rid of, compared to ants.

The problem is quickly compounded if you live in a region where air dampness is common. When you get a combination of wood and damp conditions, it can quickly mean a termite nest. An ants nest can be simply destroyed, but if a termite colony lives in or near your home, without destroying the nest, your home can in turn be the one that is torn down.

So what can you do to prevent termites from carrying out an occupation of your home like the Japanese did with the rest of Asia in World War II?

1. Ensure there are no wooden scraps and tree stumps in or near your home and its foundation, especially the stumps. They are prime locations for a termite colony and they will migrate to your house the minute you start building it.

2. Constantly check for cracks or breaks in your house. Do not limit checks to just wooden parts. Termites are known to creep into cracks in brick walls as well, before attacking the wooden portions in the rest of the home.

3. Install moisture absorbers in your home. Termites love wood. They also enjoy damp conditions for their breeding ground.

4. Keep your home well-drained. Moisture absorbers are baby steps. Keeping your home dry through proper drainage is a major foundation.

5. Wood can add so much to the visual aesthetics of a home, but a smart person will keep it to the minimum. The less wood you have, the less appealing your house is to termites.

6. Schedule periodic maintenance by a pest control company if necessary, especially if your home is situated in a prime region for termite damage.

These are just some of the more basic measures in termite prevention. If you do not want these bugs to destroy your dream home, take early steps in strong termite control.