Three quick differences

✓ Waist: termites have a thick waist; flying ants have a pinched one.

✓ Wings: termite wings are equal in length and twice as long as the body; ant wings are uneven.

✓ Antennae: termites have straight antennae; ants have bent, elbowed ones.

What a swarm means

Subterranean termites usually swarm on warm spring days after rain. Drywood termites swarm on warm evenings and are drawn to lights. Finding discarded wings on window sills is a strong sign a colony is close.

What to do next

Save a few insects in a sealed bag or take a clear photo, then book an inspection. Don’t spray the swarm: it won’t reach the colony, and it removes the evidence we use to identify the termite type.