Ants
Ants are the number one pest problem in the country. Ant control can be difficult, but there are some things you should know about how ant behavior can lead to big headaches for you and your home:
- Entry: Ants can enter through even the tiniest cracks, seeking water and sweet or greasy food substances in the kitchen pantry or storeroom areas.
- Scent trails: Ants leave an invisible chemical trail which contains pheromones for others to follow once they locate the food source.
- Nest locations: They can nest about anywhere in and around your house: in lawns, walls, stumps, and even under foundations.
- Colony size: Can number from 300,000 to 500,000 and whole colonies can uproot and relocate quickly when threatened.
- Colony Lifetime: A colony can live a relatively long lifetime. Worker ants may live seven years and the queen may live as long as 15 years.
- Do-it-yourself ineffectiveness: Most do-it-yourself ant control approaches only kill the ants you see. Some truly effective treatments can penetrate and destroy nests to help prevent these pests from returning. Also, home remedies don’t account for the fact that different kinds of ant infestations require different treatments.
Common Ants
Acrobat ant
Acrobat ants get their name from their habit of raising their abdomen above their head, especially when they are disturbed. When they are viewed from above, the abdomen is heart-shaped. There are several species of acrobat ants in the United States. Acrobat ants are small ants. Most species are less than 1/8” in length. Many give off a disgusting odor when disturbed.
Outdoors, acrobat ants nest under stones, in stumps, in rotting logs, and under woodpiles. When they invade homes, they often nest in wall voids or in foam sheathing behind siding. Homeowners often find bits of foam around the outside of their home, next to the foundation. The ants also nest in wood that has been damaged by moisture and fungus. Acrobat ants have been found nesting in roofing near a leaking skylight.
Acrobat ants often nest in wood that termites or carpenter ants have damaged. It is common for the acrobat ants to clean out the galleries that other insects made in the wood. They push the dirt or wood scraps out of the galleries. Sometimes homeowners find this debris and think there is an active termite infestation.
Acrobat ants normally eat insects and honeydew. They protect the aphids that produce the honeydew. If acrobat ants come into a home, they seem to prefer sweets and meat.
The acrobat ant workers enter homes in several ways. Sometimes they make a trail across the ground. Door thresholds and weep holes are common entryways. Workers can also follow tree limbs or shrubs that touch the house. They have even made their trails on utility lines. The ants can enter the home through the same opening that pipes or wires go through.
Preventing acrobat ants begins with a thorough inspection. Sometimes there is evidence to show where they made their nest. For example, if there are bits of foam on the ground by the foundation, it may be a sign that acrobat ants are nesting behind the siding. Ants that are moving in a trail can lead to their nest and their food supply. It is very necessary to correct a moisture problem before it is possible to eliminate acrobat ants.
It may be necessary to trim shrubs or tree limbs to stop acrobat ants from invading. Check attic vents and repair any damaged screens. Caulk openings around pipes and utility lines. (Do not handle electric wires; contact the utility company or an electrician.) Move firewood piles away from the home. It may even be necessary to remove a tree stump that the ants have used for a nesting site.
Because the nest can be difficult to locate, it is usually preferable to leave the treatment of acrobat ants to a pest control professional.
Argentine ant
Argentine ants may live in soil, under wood, logs, debris or mulch. They may also nest in branches and cavities of shrubs and trees. Their nests are often shallow, measuring up to two-inches in depth in open habitats.
Argentine ants are brown in color, measuring about 1/16-inch in length. They have a single node in their midsection. The eggs of the Argentine ants are pearly white in color and take one week to a few months to hatch. Like other ant species, Argentine ants pass through the development process called complete metamorphosis. The larval stage may take up to two months to reach completion. From egg to adult, the life cycle of Argentine ants ranges from two to five months.
Unlike some other species, Argentine ants have no soldier caste. All Argentine ants are the same size. They travel with well-defined trails between their web of nests and their food sources. Argentine ants feed on fresh fruits, buds of plants, sweets, honeydew and oily household foods.
While other ant species have seasonal nuptial swarming flights, Argentine ants do not establish new nests through swarming. In summer and spring, a queen Argentine ant will leave her nest on foot to establish new colonies. New nests are constructed around the original, and remain connected to the queen's old colony, so workers are sometimes shared between colonies.
Argentine ants kill other insects and invade human dwellings. Over time, the network of interconnecting colonies could become an infestation. Each colony of Argentine ants can contain millions of insects and multiple queens. These colonies can populate entire city blocks, and researchers have estimated that Argentine ant infestations grow at a rate of more than 200 meters annually.
Carpenter ant
Carpenter ants are large insects, ranging in size from 1/2-inch to one inch in length. They are most commonly black, but some carpenter ants exhibit both red and black coloration. They are common in many parts of the world.
Carpenter ants are active year-round and can be found both indoors and outside. It is also common for carpenter ants to have to have an outdoor nest, appearing indoors only to obtain water or food.
In nature, carpenter ants live in dead trees, rotting logs and tree stumps. They tend to build nests in deteriorating wood, but their colonies may extend to healthy wood, as well. In urban surroundings, carpenter ants will make their homes in telephone poles, house porch pillars and roofs, windowsills and wood that comes in contact with soil. Carpenter ants prefer to burrow into damp wood rather than dry wood.
Carpenter ants burrow to provide a nest for their colonies, and over a long period of time, their burrowing may compromise a structure. In controlling an infestation of carpenter ants, it is necessary to first find the nest. Once found, it can be removed or treated chemically. All moisture conditions must be corrected to treat against carpenter ants.
It is advisable to seek professional help in containing carpenter ant infestations, as incorrect procedures may allow the colony to "rebound" when surviving members resume their burrowing and foraging.
Fire ant
Three major species of fire ant inhabit North America: the imported red fire ant, the black fire ant and the native fire ant. All three can be harmful to humans and pets, and as such, should be avoided at all costs.
The most persistent and common of these species is the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis Invicta. The red imported fire ant (sometimes referred to as RIFA) has no natural predators in North America and is the most resilient fire ant species, capable of surviving dramatic temperature swings and severe weather. They are also capable of physically dominating and displacing other ant species. In order to combat the red fire ant, humans have developed an extensive arsenal of pesticides and bait and are even experimenting with the introduction of the phorid fly to control ant colonies. These South American Flies lay their eggs in living fire ants. When the fly eggs hatch, the larvae eat the ant.
The black fire ant is similar to the red fire ant in habits, and is found in a smaller area between Mississippi and Alabama. The primary distinction, as the name suggests, is the black coloration.
Native fire ants, or Solenopsis Geminata
These are smaller than red imported fire ants and are black in color. Native fire ants are also referred to as tropical fire ants, and are found in warm states such as South Carolina, Florida and Texas. Unlike black and imported red fire ants, native fire ants prefer moist, loose soil for their colonies.
The Solenopsis Invicta, or red imported fire ant
The red imported fire ant was brought into the United States in the 1930's via a shipment of cargo. Since that time, imported fire ants have established a strong presence throughout the South. They have been identified as far west as California and as far north as Maryland. In addition to the nuisance and the hazard they pose to humans, imported fire ants are also being blamed for a decline in the populations of certain ground-nesting birds. They have had an impact on cattle production and many forms of wildlife.
Red imported fire ants have few natural predators in North America, and humans are forced to combat their rapidly increasing numbers. Home and over-the-counter remedies exist, but pest control experts are the most effective means by which to combat a fire ant infestation. Professional fire ant control techniques include insecticides or insect growth regulators combined with food attractant. After technicians have spread the bait around known colonies, worker ants will carry it to the colony, where it will be ingested by the queen and young, leading to the eradication of the colony.
The imported fire ant's bite is painful to humans and is comprised of two steps: fire ants use their mandibles to bite their prey, then use their stinger to deliver an alkaloid venom. Initially, fire ant stings result in irritation and clusters of red bumps. However, if not treated immediately after the attack, the bumps will become white pustules, which pose a high risk of infection and scarring.
Harvester ant
The common species of harvester ants - the red, western, and California harvester ants each have unique behaviors, castes and tasks, feeding, nesting patterns and defense mechanisms. The harvester ant behavior differs between each species, seen through their feeding and nesting habits. In addition, unlike other ants that infest indoor structures, all species of harvester ants prefer not to invade houses and buildings, but will establish their nests around gardens or yards, often destroying vegetation.
The red harvester ants can be aggressive. They give out a painful sting. Sometimes, the stings of red harvest ants can cause allergic reactions, especially to those sensitive to their venom. Aside from their powerful stings, the red harvester ant also bites viciously. However, due to the competition for food with the ferocious red fire ants, the population of red harvester ants appears to be declining.
This is an important agricultural pest in many areas. The feeding habits of red harvester ants can be seen as they leave their nests and crawl to their food sources, leaving a distinct scent throughout their paths. Once the scent paths stop, the red harvester ants go their own ways and forage for food.
The western harvester ant is found in the west at high elevations. This is a red colored ant that can be almost one half an inch long. This ant can cause damage to highways by encouraging erosion under roads. Galleries have been found to go over 9 feet deep.
Leafcutter ants also have been considered harvester ants. They exhibit high degrees of polymorphism with castes including the minims, mediae, minors and majors. They are divided based on their size to perform different tasks. For instance, the majors are considered the leafcutter ant soldiers, while the mediae are known as the foragers of food. The minims tend their fungus gardens, while the minors guard the nest from predators. Leafcutter ants, particularly the majors, are strong enough to cut through leather.
Another group of harvester ants are the messor harvester ants which have over 100 different species. Their colonies contain only one queen, but with hundreds of workers. The messor harvester ants are known as sophisticated architects because of their intricately, designed nests, wherein they store seeds during dry weather to avoid germs. Messor ants can easily cut through large seeds and carry them back to their nests. However, these harvester ants exhibit slow movement.
Pheidole harvester ants have three kinds of members within their colonies - the minor workers, major workers, soldiers, and the queen. The major workers are known for their large heads that may give them a fierce appearance. However, these harvester ants are usually shy and often flee at signs of danger.
Odorous ant
Odorous house ants are one of the most widespread house-infesting pests in Virginia. Because odorous house ants tend to forage inside homes, they can easily contaminate human food supplies. While odorous house ants do not sting or bite, they can become persistent pests, traveling indoors in large numbers.
Odorous house ants are small, measuring between 1/16 and 1/8-inch in length. They have dark brown or black bodies with one node on their petiole, which is hidden by their abdomens. Odorous house ants have an unevenly shaped thorax when viewed from the side. The most distinguishable characteristic of odorous house ants is the smell of rotten coconut that is emitted when their bodies are crushed.
Odorous house ants are opportunists, nesting both indoors and outdoors. Indoors, odorous ants can nest in wall crevices, near heaters, water pipes, under carpets, beneath floors, or sometimes behind paneling. Outdoors, odorous house ants place their shallow nests beneath soil as well as in logs, mulch, debris, and under rocks.
Like all ants, odorous house ants live in colonies. Each colony may contain two or more queens and over 10,000 workers. The queens of an odorous ant colony can produce thousands of workers and hundreds of reproductives. These reproductives are the future queens.
Odorous house ants forage for food night and day. Outdoors, they prefer honeydew from aphids and mealybugs. When the honeydew supply is reduced in autumn, they often move indoors for food. Indoors, they eat meats, sugary foods, dairy products, pastries, cooked or raw vegetables, and fruit juices.
When alarmed by a predator, worker odorous ants will move in quick, erratic motions, raising their abdomens into the air.
Pharaoh ant
Pharaoh ants are small, yellow ants. Their thorax is typically darker, helping to locate the ant. They are present in almost every area in the world and are considered to be a major pest due to their ability to survive in indoor areas. Hospitals frequently require control for pharaoh ants, as they can quickly spread disease and contaminate sterile equipment and rooms.
Unlike some other ant species, pharaoh ants have multiple queens and are able to move their colonies from place to place when disturbed. Workers can grow from eggs to adults in as little as 38 days and may live for nine to ten weeks. Queen pharaoh ants can live for four to twelve months, but male pharaoh ants die within three to five weeks of mating. Pharaoh ants begin new colonies by budding out. This means that a small group - a minimum of five workers, ten preadults and a single queen - migrate from their colony to start a new colony.
Pharaoh ants can build nests in walls, cabinet voids, behind baseboards, refrigerator insulations, the hollows of curtain rods, the folds of clothes, sheets, and paper and other undisturbed dark spaces. A colony of pharaoh ants will scatter if a toxic substance disturbs it. This creates multiple problems. In controlling pharaoh ants, it is often advisable to seek professional help.
Pavement ant
Pavement ants measure approximately 1/8-inch in length and have brown to black bodies, pale legs and antennae. These ants are found throughout the Eastern United States and are major pests in the upper Midwest. Pavement ants earned their name because they nest in cracks in driveways and under sidewalks, piling the resulting dirt in a mound on top of the pavement.
Pavement ants also dwell in the undersides of logs, bricks, stones, patio blocks and boards. Pavement ants may also nest under mulching or open soil close to building foundations. They rarely nest indoors, but when pavement ants do enter buildings, they are seen under floors, inside insulation, and within walls.
Pavement ants undergo complete metamorphosis, passing through the egg, larval and pupal stages before becoming mature adults. Unlike other ants, pavement ants mate for many days, and the period of their mating is lengthened by heat and humidity. Mating swarms can include an extremely large number of reproductives.
A typical colony of pavement ants includes multiple queens and numerous workers. A queen establishes a new colony of pavement ants by laying eggs. Pavement worker ants then tend the queen's brood until they develop into adults. During their development, broods are transferred from location to location to protect them from fluctuations in moisture and temperature.
Pavement ants will feed on a wide variety of foods, including meats, grease, live and dead insects, and seeds and honeydew from aphids. They prefer to eat greasy foods and can eat most foods consumed by humans. They forage for food up to thirty feet from their colonies and set up trails to food sources from their nests. Pavement ant workers enter houses to forage and can become a nuisance when large groups infest a kitchen or garden patio. They are not aggressive, but they can sting and bite.
The nests of pavement ants are difficult to locate, so the most efficient way to manage an infestation is to contact a pest control professional.
Thief ant
Also known as grease ants and sometimes "sugar ants." Thief ants are one of the tiniest household ant species found worldwide. These ants are about 1/16-inch long. The name is derived from the ants' habit of stealing larvae and pupae from neighboring colonies. They are omnivorous and feed on food that is high in protein, including the larvae and pupae of other ant species, as well as other insects.
While thief ants and pharaoh ants resemble one another, several characteristics of the thief ant can ensure proper identification. The thief ant is light brown or yellow in color and measures only 1/16-inch in length. Thief ants have petioles with two nodes, one thorax without spines, ten segmented antennae with two-segment antennal clubs and small, compound eyes. The thief ant also tends to forage in well-defined trails, while pharaoh ants are less likely to make trails but do so after food or water sources have been established.
Thief ant colonies tend to be smaller than those of other species, but can contain two or more queens and several thousand workers. The thief ant queen is capable of establishing new colonies without the help of her workers, though she may still choose to include two or more workers after mating.
Thief ants feed on protein and greasy foods such as nuts, meats, cheese, peanut butter, and sweets. Because worker thief ants are small enough to enter food packaging, they can become a nuisance in the kitchen. Outside, thief ants forage for dead insects and rodents. Because of this, it is possible they can transmit pathogens from a food source to human food.
Thief ant mating swarms appear from July to September, though these reproductive ants may also be seen indoors in the summer. When thief ants enter homes and buildings, they form trails from the food source to their nests.
Thief ants nest in rotting wood and soil. They may also nest indoors in small spaces, including wall crevices, cabinet voids, under countertops and behind baseboards. Because thief ants nest in hidden areas, their nests are difficult to locate. The best way to address a thief ant infection is to contact your local pest control professional.
Other Types of Ants
Crazy Ants
Little Black Ants
White Footed Ants
Black Ants
Black Ants Habitat
Leafcutter Ants
Grease Ants
Sugar Ants
Sugar Ants Habitat
Army Ants
Army Ants Habitat
Queen Ants
Winged Ants
For information on other pests, visit the "Pest Index" home page.
