PSU Entomology Department Factsheets

Several species of ants commonly inhabit home lawns and ornamental plantings of trees and shrubs. Winged ants are frequently confused with swarming termites. Ants can be easily distinguished from termites by the following characteristics: (1) ants have elbowed antennae while those of termites are straight and beadlike; (2) front wings of ants are larger in size than the rear wings while those of termites are all equal in size; (3) the waist of ants are thin and appear to be constricted while those of termites are broad and not constricted; (4) wings of ants are usually transparent or brownish while those of termites are milky-white.

Home lawn areas in Pennsylvania often are subject to severe and extensive injury (Fig. 1) by the larval stages (grubs) of various species of scarab beetles. Japanese beetles and northern masked chafer grubs are the predominant damaging white grub species associated with home lawns. Several other white grub species including Asiatic garden beetle, European chafer, green June beetle, May and June beetles, and Oriental beetle are occasionally observed in home lawns and may cause significant damage.