What characteristic distinguishes ants from termites?

The characteristic that distinguishes ants from termites is that ants undergo a pupal stage during their life cycle. In the life cycle of insects, the pupal stage is a transformation phase that occurs after the larval stage, where an insect undergoes significant morphological changes to become an adult. This stage is common in ants and many other types of insects, where the larvae develop into pupae before emerging as adult insects.

On the other hand, termites do not have a distinct pupal stage; instead, they develop through egg and nymph stages directly into adults, which sets this aspect of their life cycle apart from that of ants. Understanding this difference is important for anyone studying insect biology and pest management, as it can influence the methodologies used for proper identification and treatment approaches in managing these pests.