What is the difference between carpenter ants and termites?

• There are a number of differences between carpenter ants and termites. The body shape of a carpenter ant is like an hourglass--it narrows between the abdomen in the rear and the thorax in the front. The body of a termite is more cigar-shaped without the narrowing between the front and back halves of the body. When wings are present, carpenter ants have larger wings in the front and smaller wings in the back, whereas termite "swarmers" have relatively equal-sized wings. Carpenter ant wings are less "veiny" than termite wings. Also, ant wings have a stigma (dark spot) on the leading edge of the front wing, and termite wings do not. • Carpenter ant antennae are bent or curved, while termite antennae are relatively straight. Also, termites eat the wood they tunnel through and ants do not.  more