Help Identifying an Insect in My Home - Ask Extension
Hello, i submitted a query here a few minutes ago, but thought i'd add another picture, with a ruler, for some perspective... As i previously posted h...
Knowledgebase
Help Identifying an Insect in My Home #876847
Asked July 11, 2024, 2:54 PM EDT
Hello, i submitted a query here a few minutes ago, but thought i'd add another picture, with a ruler, for some perspective... As i previously posted here, i have some insects that seem to invade my porch. this happened last summer, and again this summer. They look like little ants, but have wings, or grow wings as they migrate onto my porch floor. They're only around 1/8" long, with a slightly wider wingspan.
My biggest concern is that these ants, or insects may be breeding under my porch (it's over 100 years old) and eating the wood structure under the floor.
i have collected specimens, and am hoping that you can help me to get them identified. I can bring the sample specimens wherever i need to have someone look at them.
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
First of all, these questions are assigned by computer to U of MN Extension volunteers. Your first question was likely assigned to someone else. Unless you can catch a live ant in a plastic bag or container and then freeze it, it is hard to identify because various body parts are damaged while capturing/executing the ant.
Using this web pages, I think you have ants rather than termites. https://entomology.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/diagnostician/lab-news/winged-ants-vs-termites.html
From this web site, winged carpenter ants are a likely candidate. Both of these web pages suggest insecticides that may be used to remove them.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/winged-carpenter-ants
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/carpenter-ants-5-554
https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/carpenter-ants
Using this web pages, I think you have ants rather than termites. https://entomology.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/diagnostician/lab-news/winged-ants-vs-termites.html
From this web site, winged carpenter ants are a likely candidate. Both of these web pages suggest insecticides that may be used to remove them.
https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/winged-carpenter-ants
https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/carpenter-ants-5-554
https://extension.umn.edu/insects-infest-homes/carpenter-ants
Hello, I just wanted to thank you for the information, i think you're right! You people are wonderful, and have helped me several times over the last 40 years or so!
