As the illustration indicates, flying ants and swarming winged termites can appear very similar but, in fact, have key differences by which they can be distinguished.
Ants have two sets of wings that are unequal in length and are held above the abdomen. They are hard-bodied with a pinched waist, long legs, and long, bent antennae.
Termites, on the other hand, have two sets of wings that are equal in length and are held flat against the abdomen. They are soft-bodied with a thick waist, shorter legs, and short, straight antennae.
Ants are the most common insects that invade homes and businesses. There are about twenty species of ants in our area, which can widely range in size and color. They have three body regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. Most are wingless, but the winged ants are sometimes confused with swarming termites.
The odorous house ant is a common pest in east Tennessee. They forage indoors for sweet foods and, when crushed, give off an unpleasant odor that is often compared to rotting fruit. Ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall cracks. On the hunt for food, a single ant can lead the way for the entire colony to invade your home.
Termites eat wood, usually fallen logs and stumps on the forest floor. But, they can also eat away the equity you’ve built in your home or property. No home, whether it is old or new, built on a crawl space or a slab, is safe from termites. A colony may contain several million termites, which disperse throughout the soil near your property. Because termites need moisture, they attack your home from below, building mud tubes that can cross concrete, brick, cinder block, metal, pre-treated wood, and some chemical barriers. Termites also eat wood from the inside out, making their activity largely undetectable; this is why a professional termite inspection is so important.
The following signs may indicate that termites have invaded your home:
1. A temporary swarm of winged insects near or inside the building
2. Discarded wings near doors and windows
3. Mud tubes in the basement or crawl space
4. Hollow-sounding wall studs
5. Unexpected sagging in wooden buildings
Russell’s recommends yearly termite inspections to ensure the safety of your home.
Mice
The house mouse is the most common rodent in most parts of the world. It can breed rapidly and adapt quickly to changing condition. It can range in color from light brown to black. Mirco droplets of mouse urine can cause allergies in children. They may bring fleas, mites, ticks, and lice into your home. Mice can contaminate food and transmit various pathogens, such as salmonella. If a mouse can get his nose through a hole the size of a pencil, he can squeeze his body through, as well.
Earwigs
Earwigs have slender, flattened bodies with a pair of very large pincers at the tip of their abdomen. They hide during the day under debris or in dark spaces, emerging at night to feed on plants, organic wastes, and smaller insects. They are harmless; however, when disturbed they emit a liquid that smells like creosote.
Spiders
Few small creatures arouse such fear in people as spiders, yet, thankfully, most are completely harmless. While outdoors, they serve the purpose of ridding the environment of other harmful insects, but indoors, they will build webs in corners, under furniture, and anywhere else that they think they will not be disturbed. If spiders invade your home, it is likely because other bugs are already there, providing them with a food source.
Roaches
The German and American cockroaches are common in east Tennessee. German roaches are the most prolific and can often produce three or four new generations each year. They are pale to dark brown and may be up to 5/8 inch long. They become adults in as little as 36 days. Roaches can spread germs and make allergies worse. Often referred to as “water bugs” or “palmetto bugs,” American roaches are reddish-brown and can be about two inches long.
Roaches will eat nearly anything, but are attracted to moist human and pet food, sweet foods, and decaying starches (such as book bindings and wallpaper adhesive). They will congregate in dark, moist areas such as basements or garages and may also invade drains, bathtubs, and sewers.
Millipedes and Centipedes
Millipedes and centipedes only occasionally invade homes and can usually be contained with a perimeter pest control service with occasional visits indoors. Millipedes are harmless and have two pairs of legs on each segments of their cylinder–shaped bodies. They are often called "thousand leggers." They prefer moist and cool conditions and may become a nuisance pest in basements and garages. Centipedes have flatter bodies with one pair of legs per segment. They have an alarming appearance and surprising speed, which is necessary since they are predator-bugs; they can also bite, creating a painful bump that is similar to a bee sting.
Silverfish
Adult silverfish are about 1/2 inch long and are silvery-gray in color. They have three pronounced tails and threadlike antennae. They like dark, warm, and damp places such as basements or laundry rooms and are sometimes found trapped in bathtubs and sinks. They prefer warm temperatures and will eat a wide variety of foods such as glue, wallpaper paste, book bindings, and paper.
Camel Crickets
Camel crickets are tan or gray in color and have bodies up to two inches long with large humpbacks. Their four-inch legs allow them to jump at you when they feel threatened. Their threadlike antennae are as long as or longer than their bodies. Although they appear intimidating, they are harmless to humans. However, they can be a nuisance and cause minor damage to items stored in dark, damp crawl spaces, or basements.
Fleas
Fleas attack people, domestic animals, rodents, and other wild animals in order to feed on their blood. Once inside the home, fleas can hide in carpets, rugs, floor tile joints, pet bedding, and even under furniture cushions. Their lifecycle may take as little as two weeks to mature. These parasites can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. Flea bites result in painful, itchy red bumps. Russell’s has the products and expertise to create a flea-free environment.
Russell’s Pest Control | Main office: 1505 Hollywood Road | Knoxville, TN 37909 | 865.584.8549 | ContactUs@RussellsPest.com
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Ants are the most common insects that invade homes and businesses. There are about twenty species of ants in our area, which can widely range in size and color. They have three body regions: head, thorax, and abdomen. Most are wingless, but the winged ants are sometimes confused with swarming termites. 
Termites eat wood, usually fallen logs and stumps on the forest floor. But, they can also eat away the equity you’ve built in your home or property. No home, whether it is old or new, built on a crawl space or a slab, is safe from termites. A colony may contain several million termites, which disperse throughout the soil near your property. Because termites need moisture, they attack your home from below, building mud tubes that can cross concrete, brick, cinder block, metal, pre-treated wood, and some chemical barriers. Termites also eat wood from the inside out, making their activity largely undetectable; this is why a professional termite inspection is so important. 
Few small creatures arouse such fear in people as spiders, yet, thankfully, most are completely harmless. While outdoors, they serve the purpose of ridding the environment of other harmful insects, but indoors, they will build webs in corners, under furniture, and anywhere else that they think they will not be disturbed. If spiders invade your home, it is likely because other bugs are already there, providing them with a food source. 
The German and American cockroaches are common in east Tennessee. German roaches are the most prolific and can often produce three or four new generations each year. They are pale to dark brown and may be up to 5/8 inch long. They become adults in as little as 36 days. Roaches can spread germs and make allergies worse. Often referred to as “water bugs” or “palmetto bugs,” American roaches are reddish-brown and can be about two inches long. 
Millipedes and centipedes only occasionally invade homes and can usually be contained with a perimeter pest control service with occasional visits indoors. Millipedes are harmless and have two pairs of legs on each segments of their cylinder–shaped bodies. They are often called "thousand leggers." They prefer moist and cool conditions and may become a nuisance pest in basements and garages. Centipedes have flatter bodies with one pair of legs per segment. They have an alarming appearance and surprising speed, which is necessary since they are predator-bugs; they can also bite, creating a painful bump that is similar to a bee sting. 
Adult silverfish are about 1/2 inch long and are silvery-gray in color. They have three pronounced tails and threadlike antennae. They like dark, warm, and damp places such as basements or laundry rooms and are sometimes found trapped in bathtubs and sinks. They prefer warm temperatures and will eat a wide variety of foods such as glue, wallpaper paste, book bindings, and paper. 
Camel crickets are tan or gray in color and have bodies up to two inches long with large humpbacks. Their four-inch legs allow them to jump at you when they feel threatened. Their threadlike antennae are as long as or longer than their bodies. Although they appear intimidating, they are harmless to humans. However, they can be a nuisance and cause minor damage to items stored in dark, damp crawl spaces, or basements. 
Fleas attack people, domestic animals, rodents, and other wild animals in order to feed on their blood. Once inside the home, fleas can hide in carpets, rugs, floor tile joints, pet bedding, and even under furniture cushions. Their lifecycle may take as little as two weeks to mature. These parasites can cause allergic reactions in pets and humans. Flea bites result in painful, itchy red bumps. Russell’s has the products and expertise to create a flea-free environment.