Carpenter Ants vs. Termites in Ontario: How to Tell the Difference
Both can damage wood, but they look different, act differently and need different treatment. Here is how to tell which one you have.
By the Vermingo Pest Control team · October 22, 2026 · 4 min read
Finding winged insects or damaged wood in your home is stressful. In Ontario, the two most likely culprits are carpenter ants and eastern subterranean termites. They are often confused, but the differences are easy to spot once you know what to look for.
Look at the body
- Carpenter ants have a narrow, pinched waist, elbowed antennae and, when winged, front wings longer than the back wings.
- Termites have a thick waist with no pinch, straight antennae and four wings of equal length.
Look at the damage
- Carpenter ants leave clean, smooth tunnels and push out fine sawdust called frass. You may see small piles under windows, baseboards or beams.
- Termites leave rough, layered tunnels packed with soil and build pencil-width mud tubes along foundations, joists and sill plates.
Where they are found
Carpenter ants are common across Ontario and very common around Barrie, Simcoe County and cottage country, especially near damp wood, decks and treed lots. Termites are much more localized and are found in parts of Toronto and southern Ontario, often in older neighbourhoods.
Which one is worse?
Termites eat wood and can cause serious structural damage over years. Carpenter ants do not eat wood, but they hollow it out to nest, which can weaken window frames, decks and roof structures over time. Both deserve attention.
What to do
- Collect a sample or take clear photos of the insects
- Note where you see sawdust, mud tubes or swarmers
- Fix leaks and moisture problems around the area
- Book an inspection before damage spreads
Learn more about our carpenter ant control and termite inspection and treatment, or browse the Pest Library.
Seeing sawdust or mud tubes?
We inspect, identify and treat wood-destroying insects.