Flying Ants vs Termites

Winged ants and winged termites look alike at a glance but are easy to tell apart once you know what to check. (Note: termites are extremely rare in the UK.)

Comparison diagram illustrating the anatomical differences between a flying ant and a flying termite
Anatomical differences between a flying ant (elbowed antennae, pinched waist, unequal wings) and a flying termite (straight antennae, thick waist, equal wings).
FeatureFlying AntTermite
WaistNarrow, pinchedStraight, no waist
AntennaeBent / elbowedStraight
WingsFront pair longer than rearAll four wings equal length
ColourUsually black/brownPale/cream

The three quick checks

  1. Look at the waist — a pinched waist means ant.
  2. Check the antennae — elbowed means ant, straight means termite.
  3. Compare the wings — unequal wings mean ant.

Do I need to worry about termites in the UK?

Almost certainly not. The UK has no established native termite population, so winged insects in a British home are virtually always flying ants.

Do flying ants bite? → Flying Ant Day →