Are these termites?

Watch Reply
More
Mark unread Print Skip to new
fritchie21 Riverside, CA(Zone 9a) Aug 30, 2012

This afternoon we had a crazy, unexpected rain storm in Riverside, CA (we normally do NOT get rain at this time of year). While I was out photographing the rain, I noticed all these insects flying around, then landing on my mulched path. I stooped down to photograph them, and noticed that upon landing they seemed to pair up and then shed their wings! In the first pic you can see one with wings still on; in the second both insects have shed their wings, though you can see some of the discarded wings in the pic. Are these termites?

Thumbnail by fritchie21 Thumbnail by fritchie21
Post #9259837
Quote
greenthumb99 Lucketts, VA(Zone 7a) Aug 30, 2012

Pretty sure they are termites.

Post #9259849
Quote
sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Aug 31, 2012

I agree. The other candidate would be ants and these guys here do not look antlike in shape. Ants have 'waists' like wasps do.
The other hint is- do both pairs of wings on one bug look the same? Ant wings would be in one large pair and one smaller pair, like wasps.

Post #9260197
Quote
greenthumb99 Lucketts, VA(Zone 7a) Aug 31, 2012

Also, the antennae differ between ants and termites - Those of ants have an "elbow", while those of termites do not.

Post #9260221
Quote
sallyg Anne Arundel,, MD(Zone 7b) Aug 31, 2012

True!
So these are all the specific kinds of hints of why we say "It's a termite (or ___) because of the way it looks"

Post #9260224
Quote
greenthumb99 Lucketts, VA(Zone 7a) Aug 31, 2012

Sally, I thought you left to pot up some Calycanthus chinensis seeds. Done already? Including the magic spell?

Post #9260234
Quote

Post a Reply to this Thread

Please or sign up to post.
Back to Forum Homepage

More Insect and Spider Identification Threads

Go to all Insect and Spider Identification threads
BACK TO TOP