Common Ants

COMMON ANTS

Ants are social insects living in colonies with three castes: queens (egg-layers), workers (sterile females responsible for food and defense), and males (reproductive).

Ants can be distinguished from termites by:

• Ants: Constricted “figure-8” body, elbowed antennae, larger forewings.
• Termites: No waist constriction, straight antennae, equal-sized wings.

1. ACROBAT ANTS

• Size: 1/8 to 1/4 inch, light brownish-yellow with heart-shaped abdomen.
• Nesting: Outdoors in decaying wood, indoors in moisture-damaged wood.
• Diet: Live and dead insects, honeydew from aphids.
• Behavior: Will bite and emit a repulsive odor when disturbed.

2. ARGENTINE ANTS

• Size: 1/8 inch, brown.
• Nesting: Soil, mulch, wood, and indoor walls.
• Diet: Live and dead insects, honeydew, attracted to sweet foods.

3. BIG HEADED ANTS

• Size: Small, light brown to nearly black.
• Nesting: Soil, under stones/logs.
• Diet: Live and dead insects, honeydew, sweets, fats, and proteins.

4. CARPENTER ANTS

• Size: 1/4 to 1/2 inch, winged reproductives up to 7/16 inch.
• Nesting: Wood structures, can infest homes.
• Diet: Omnivorous, including honeydew, fruits, meat, and grease.
• Behavior: Do not sting but bite and spray formic acid.

5. CRAZY ANTS

• Size: 1/8 inch, long legs and antennae.
• Nesting: Trash, plant cavities, and indoors.
• Diet: Live and dead insects, honeydew, household foods.

6. GHOST ANTS

• Size: 1.3 to 1.5 mm, dark brown head and thorax, milky white gaster.
• Nesting: Tree cavities, wall voids, potted plants.
• Diet: Honeydew, sweet and protein foods.

7. ODOROUS HOUSE ANTS

• Size: 1/8 inch, dark brown to shiny black.
• Nesting: Wooded areas, walls, water pipes.
• Diet: Honeydew, sweet foods, dead insects.

8. PHARAOH ANTS

• Size: 1/12 to 1/16 inch, yellow to light brown.
• Nesting: Indoor voids, cracks, and crevices.
• Diet: Sweets, greasy foods.
• Behavior: Mobile colonies, may move if disturbed.

9. LITTLE BLACK ANTS

• Size: 1/16 inch, shiny black.
• Nesting: Mulch, logs, stumps, and home invasions.
• Diet: Sweets, meats, grease, bread, honeydew.

10. PAVEMENT ANTS

• Size: 3/16 inch, brown.
• Nesting: Cracks in pavement, soil.
• Diet: Honeydew, insects, sweets, greasy foods.

11. FIRE ANTS

• Size: 1/16 to 1/5 inch, reddish with dark gaster.
• Nesting: Mounds in soil, lawns, open areas.
• Diet: Insects, dead animals, honeydew, sweets.
• Behavior: Highly aggressive, swarm and sting in large numbers.

12. THIEF ANTS

• Size: 1/32 inch, yellow to light brown.
• Nesting: Outdoors in soil or decaying wood, indoors in voids.
• Diet: Grease, dead insects, sweets, proteins.

13. WEAVER ANTS

• Size: Small, attracted to nectar.
• Nesting: Living leaves, creating camouflaged nests.
• Behavior: No sting, but bite with irritating chemicals.

ANTS MANAGEMENT

• Residual Spraying: Apply insecticide around the building to keep ants out.
• Baiting: Place bait in areas where ants are active. They carry it back to the nest for effective control.