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AUTHORS		FAQ NAVIGATION
Who e-mail Handle Web site Phillip Pi y Ant The Ant Farm Randy Rencsok y Mr. Ant AntCam Andre Schmidt y Jinei Myrmecology James Trager y Dr. Ant		Prev Top Next Chapter Chapter Page Page

3.3 What are the differences between ants and termites?

ANTS:
* Have bodies which, in the various species, can have many colors
  ranging from black to orange or yellowish coloring, or various
  combinations, and even with iridescence. The exoskeleton is
  opaque, i.e. internal organs cannot be seen from outside
  (except when very swollen, as in honey ants).
* Fore- and hindwings differ in size and vein pattern.
* First two or three segments of abdomen variously constricted
  and modified into waist-like form.
* Worm-like larvae emerge from eggs, which grow to adult size,
  then go through non-feeding pupal stage before reaching adult
  (typical ant) form.
* Larvae typicallly eat high protein diet, adults most often have
  sugary fluids as major dietary component.
* Range much further from equator, to about 60 degrees north or
  south latitude.
* Many adapted to dry climates and forage above ground even in
  driest deserts.
* Ovipositor modified into a stinger with associated venom glands
  used for subduing prey and for defense.
* Ant colonies are all females, except for the seasonal
  production of haploid (one set of chromosomes, instead of two)
  males with very distinct appearance and little or no role in
  the work of the colony.

Note: In all of the above ways, ants are like the wasps to which
      they are related.

TERMITES:
* Workers usually have bodies which appear whitish or light
  yellowish in coloring. Adult exoskeleton is soft and
  translucent, with the internal organs of abdomen partially
  visible from outside. The head is harder, and darker in color.
  Only a few day-foraging tropical termite species have brown
  or blackish bodies.
* Fore- and hindwings of alates similar.
* First segments of abdomen as broad as those posterior to them.
* Small termites with body form like adults' emerge from eggs, no
  pupal stage.
* Eat cellulose-rich diet which is digested for them by symbiotic
  microorganisms in their digestive tract.
* Found mainly within 30 degrees latitude from the equator.
* Require high humidity, those of drier climates can only come to
  surface at night or during occasional warm, wet weather.
* Ovipositor reduced in size and non-functional compared to
  related insects which use theirs for inserting eggs into
  substrate.
* Termite colonies are composed of about equal number of diploid
  males and females, with similar functions.

Note: In all but the first of these, termites are like their
      relatives, the cockroaches. They are also similiar in 
      many features of their anatomy and morphology.

--Dr. Ant

See the following URL for images of Ants (HYMENOPTERA), and T
ermites (ISOPTERA) as well as other insects.

http://entomology.unl.edu/images/ --Mr. Ant