Often homeowners will see swarming termites and ants that look very similar to each other and are sometimes confused. There are, however, very distinct characteristics that can help you tell the difference between the two. Swarming termites can often be confused with ants that swarm in the spring. Ants have elbowed antennae, a narrow, hourglass-shaped waist and two pair of wings of unequal length.

Termites have straight antennae, no visible eyes, and two pairs of wings of equal length.