Carpenter Ants vs. Termites in Ontario: How to Tell the Difference (and Why It Matters)
In Ontario, the wood-damaging insect you find is almost always a carpenter ant, not a termite — termites are rare this far north. Carpenter ants have a pinched waist, bent antennae, and unequal wings; termites have a straight waist, straight antennae, and equal-length wings. Both damage wood, so either one warrants a professional inspection.
If you've found sawdust-like shavings or winged insects near wood in your home, your first question is probably: ants or termites? In most of Ontario, it's carpenter ants — but telling them apart matters, because the treatment differs.
How to tell them apart
Why it matters: Carpenter ants don't eat wood — they excavate it to nest, leaving smooth tunnels and little piles of "frass" (wood shavings). Left alone, a mature colony can cause real structural damage over time, especially around moisture-prone areas like windows, decks and rooflines.
What to do: Don't spray a visible trail and assume it's solved — that often just scatters the colony. A proper treatment locates the nest (often in damp or hidden wood) and treats it directly, then protects the structure going forward.
If you're seeing carpenter ants around your Barrie or GTA home, Sani IQ's carpenter ant control can locate and treat the nest — call (705) 302-1887.