Ants

Argentine Ant Crazy Ant Thief Ant

Pharoah Ant Little Black Ant Red Imported Fire Ant

Pavement Ant Big Headed Ant Acrobat Ant

Argentine Ant


ID TIPS: Body hairs are sparse, no circle of hairs on tip of abdomen.

FEEDING HABITS: This ant will feed on a wide variety of foods and is partial to sweets. Indoors, the Argentine ant may literally invade any accessible food tiem, thus contaminating it. The ants locate any suitable food very quickly and will recruit hundreds of workers to the site, resulting in the food becoming black with ants.

KEY INSPECTION TIPS: Argentine ants are active foragers and forage in trails of thousands of workers. These trails can usually be located without too much difficulty along sidewalks and foundations and up the sides of buildings outdoors. The soffits and fascia boards of a home are important inspection sites as these ants can be seen trailing along eaves.

OUTSIDE: Argentine ants readily forage along tree and shrub branches and utilize cables and wires to enter structures. When the branches of trees and shrubs brush against the structure, the branches should be pulled away from the building and checked for workers trailing from the branches onto the building. When inspecting for Argentine ant trails, the grass and/or mulch should be pulled or raked away from the foundation and from along the edges of driveways and sidewalks. Mulch, especially when in thick layers, should be raked back from the bases of trees and shrubs to check for ant colonies. Any log, stone, firewood, trash, stones, bricks or other debris must be inspected underneath for colonies. Avoid inspecting for Argentine ant trails outside during the hottest part of the summer day, as foraging activity drops to a very low level.

INSIDE: Argentine ants trail along baseboards and are commonly found trailing under the edges of carpets. If the ants are entering from under the wall, the outside foundation and walls on the opposite side require inspection to determine if the trail is from an outdoor colony. If not, the colony may be located inside the wall. Workers also follow pipes and electric wires inside walls to move from one room to another. Foragers seen emerging from electric wall outlets require close inspection of wall outlet boxes.

CONTRIBUTING CONDITIONS: Areas of excess moisture should be corrected. Branches of trees and shrubs need to be cut away from the structure’s roof and walls. As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. Lumber, bricks, stones, logs and trash should also be removed.  If possible, a vegetation-free border should be created around the base of the foundation to make the area less attractive to ants. This vegetation-free zone should contain gravel or small stones and not bark chips for mulch. Mulch and bark chips hold moisture and serve as ideal nesting sites for most pest ants.

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Crazy Ant

ID TIP: Extremely long legs and antennae. The first segment of antennae is more than twice as long as the head. Crazy ants get their name from their habit of running about very erratically with no apparent sense of direction.

FEEDING HABITS: Crazy ants feed on a variety of foods, other insects, grease and sweets.

KEY INSPECTION TIPS: Trails of crazy ants will usually be quite visible on walkways,
foundations, and the sides of buildings. Once a trail of ants is found, workers carrying bits of food or whose abdomens appear swollen with food or water will usually be returning to the colony. The trail should be followed in the direction in which these workers are heading.

OUTSIDE: Any object lying on the ground, such as lumber, stones, or trash, is a potential nesting site. Piles of any item are especially coveted by this ant (and other ants), particularly items in shaded, damp areas. Landscape mulch should be moved away from the building foundation and the base of trees and shrubs to check for ant colonies. Crazy ants forage long distances from the colony so a thorough inspection of the entire property is necessary.  Branches of trees and shrubs brushing against the building should be checked for trails of foraging ants. The sides and edges of soffits on homes are often a site for foraging crazy ants.  Nests in soffits and attics are not out of the question, especially if the attic is poorly ventilated and humid or excess moisture is evident in the soffits. Crazy ants have also been observed to live in gravel and underneath wood on the flat roofs of commercial buildings. When infestations occur on the upper floors of tall buildings, the roof should be inspected.

INSIDE: Crazy ants will nest in wall voids and in the soil of potted plants and atriums. The workers will forage along baseboards both above and below the edge of carpets. When crazy ants are observed foraging indoors, an attempt should be made to follow the trail to the point where the ants enter under a wall or through a crack (e.g., under a doorway). If ants are observed entering under a wall, the foundation and wall outside that area may reveal ants entering from a colony located outdoors.

CONTRIBUTING CONDITIONS: If conditions exist which result in excess moisture they should be corrected. Branches of trees and shrubs need to be pruned away from the structure’s roof and walls. As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. Items under which crazy ants could nest should be removed. If possible, a vegetation-free border should be installed around the base of the foundation to make the area less attractive to ants and to make inspection easier. This vegetation-free border should contain gravel or small stones and not bark chips or mulch. Mulch and bark chips hold moisture, creating an ideal nesting site for ants.

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Thief Ant

• Two nodes
• One size worker, 1/32 inch (1.5 mm)
• Uneven shape of thorax
• 10 antennal segments
• Antennal club has 2 segments
• No spines on thorax
• Yellow in color

ID Tip: These ants are very tiny, probably the smallest ants found infesting structures. Often confused with Pharaoh ant. The primary difference between the two species is the thief ant has a 2-segmented antennal club while the Pharaoh ant has a 3-segmented club.

Feeding Habits: Thief ants often feed on the larvae and food of other ants. They are also predacious on the immature stages of many insects. They will also feed on other food found within structures, such as dead insects and grease. They also feed on germinating seeds and the honeydew produced by homopterous insects (e.g., aphids, mealybugs, etc.).

Key Inspection Tips: This ant is nicknamed a “thief” because it commonly lives near the nests of other ants and “steals” their larvae and food to feed its own colony. The first step when encountering tiny yellow ants in a structure is to identify whether the ant is a thief ant or a Pharaoh ant. The control procedures used for these two ants vary greatly. Once correct identification of the pest ant involved is made, an inspection can be conducted. Inside: Trails of thief ants may be found along baseboards, on walls, in closets, inside cabinets (particularly ones which contain food products), around sinks and along window sills. Inspections should be focused in rooms where the customer has seen ants. If ants are found, an attempt should be made to follow the trail back to the nest location. Workers forage in set trails which can be found along baseboards, inside cabinets and closets, and on walls. They can use electric wires to move from room to room and have been observed exiting from behind electric wall plates. Their trails are often in the same locations as those of Pharaoh ants. They can easily enter packaged foods due to their small size. Outside: Inspections should be focused on finding possible ant trails on walls near windows and doors. In addition, foraging workers may be found trailing onto the building from tree and shrub branches, which brush against the structure. Any item in contact with the soil, such as rocks, logs and debris, could harbor an ant colony. Nest outdoors may be located in the soil under items such as rocks or logs and inside decaying would found in stumps and logs.

Contributing Conditions: As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. Items under which thief ants could nest should be removed. These items include boards, bricks, stones, logs and debris. Firewood should be stored off the ground and as far from the structure as possible.

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Pharoah Ant

• Two nodes
• Worker size range: 1/16 to 1/12-inch
(1.5 to 2 mm)
• Uneven shape of thorax, no spines
• 12 antennal segments
• Antennal club has three segments

ID Tip: Pharaoh ants are very small ants about 1/16 to 1/12 inch (1.5 to 2 mm) in length.
Yellow to reddish brown coloration.

Feeding Habits: These ants have been observed feeding on such sweets as sugar syrups, fruit juices, jellies, cakes and fruit pies, as well as greases. Although this ant feeds on sweets, it is believed by some to prefer fatty foods.

Key Inspection Tips: In temperate climates, such as the United States, the Pharaoh ant does not survive outdoors year round where cold temperatures occur. It is therefore found most often in close association with heated buildings. It can survive outside only in the subtropical areas of the country such as Florida and Hawaii. In buildings, nests are usually first located in warm, moist areas such as the kitchen and bathrooms in a home or apartment. Outside these ants are most often found near heating pipes and radiators, sinks, drains and toilets. As infestations become more severe, ants will be found in other, but less preferred, areas of a building. Newly formed colonies generally remain in contact with their parent colony. It is very important that a positive identification be made that Pharaoh ants are the infesting species. Oftentimes, it is assumed that Pharaoh ants are involved but another species is present. Additionally, incorrectly identifying a Pharaoh ant as another species followed by application of residual insecticides creates a more widespread and difficult-to-control Pharaoh ant infestation. Due to the cryptic nesting habits of this ant, finding even one nest site can be a time-consuming task. The goal of an inspection is to locate as many foraging trails as possible in order to determine where baits should be placed. One technique which is often used to determine where Pharaoh ants are active is through the use of non-toxic food baits to attract workers. After positive identification is made that a Pharaoh ant infestation is present, food baits are placed in areas where ants would most likely be found. These areas include window sills, in kitchen cabinets, in bathroom vanities, along baseboards, next to fish aquariums, on kitchen and bathroom counters, in medicine cabinets, behind a refrigerator or stove and inside the electric outlet boxes in the kitchen, bathrooms and laundry room. The stove and oven provide grease and food particles as a readily exploited food sources.

Contributing Conditions: The main factor in the success of a Pharaoh ant management program is to eliminate as much potential food and water as possible on which ants could feed. Good sanitation forces the foraging workers to be more receptive to ant baits.

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Little Black Ant

• Two nodes
• One size worker, 1/16 inch (2 mm)
• Uneven thorax
• Thorax has no spines
• 12 antennal segments
• Club segmented in 3 parts
• Black color

ID Tip: The little black ant, not surprisingly, is a very small, black ant. This ant is closely related to the Pharaoh ant and looks just like it except for its black coloration.

Feeding Habits: The natural food of little black ants is the honeydew produced by homopterous insects (e.g., aphids, mealybugs, and scales) and sweet secretions pro-duced by plants. Indoors, little black ants feed on sweets, meats, grease, bread, oils, cornmeal and fruit juices.

Key Inspection Tips: Within its range, the little black ant is common in wooded areas and can be a frequent invader of homes and other buildings. Outdoors: The little black ant nests in the soil under items, such as rocks, logs or debris. It will also build nests in open areas of soil in lawns and in landscape mulch. The nests in the ground are characterized by small craters of very fine soil. Colonies have been found under the bark of trees, in debris trapped in the crotches of trees, in wood damaged by termites, in firewood piles and within stacks of bricks and stones. When inspecting for foraging little black ants, grass, vegetation and/or mulch should be pulled away from the foundation of the building and along driveways and sidewalks. Any item in contact with the soil such as logs, stones, etc. could harbor a colony. Sprinkler heads also may be a site to find a small colony. Little black ant colonies are most often associated with dead wood or piles of items like bricks and stones. Trails for workers often originate up tree trunks from some dead limb or tree hole. In such cases, accessing the colony may be difficult. Inside: Little black ant colonies or individual trails can be found in wall voids, cabinet voids, under the edge of carpets, and in the voids of masonry, such as brick or stone veneer on the outside of the structure. When ants are found living indoors, an attempt should be made to follow the foraging workers back to the site where the colony is located. If the ants are entering and exiting from under the wall, they may be originating from outside along the foundation or from tree branches touching the building.

Contributing Conditions: As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. Items under which little black ants could nest should be removed. Firewood should be stored off the ground and as far from the structure as possible. Tree and shrub branches should be trimmed away from the building. Dead tree limbs should be removed.

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Red Imported Fire Ant

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Pavement Ant

• Two nodes
• Worker size: 1/10 to 1/8 inch (3 mm)
• Unevenly shaped thorax
• 12 antennal segments
• Antennal club has 3 segments
• One pair of spines on thorax

ID Tip: Grooves are present on head and thorax. Stinger present at tip of abdomen.

Feeding Habits: These ants feed on a wide variety of different foods, including dead insects, greasy foods, seeds and sweets. They are commonly seen crawling by the hundreds over any bit of food dropped on a floor or on the ground outside. Many times this is the first hint of an infestation.

Key Inspection Tips: This pest ant derives its name from its habit of nesting beside and under sidewalks, driveways and building foundations. In areas where this ant is prevalent, any mound of displaced soil on or along a paved area is likely to be the pavement ant. The nests are found outdoors in the soil beneath stones, along the edges of curbing, and in cracks in the pavement, especially when the latter is next to the lawn. Colonies can also be found under almost any item lying on top of the ground including stones, logs, boards, firewood and cardboard. Field stones, bricks and patio blocks set in the soil to make pathways and patios are an ideal site for pavement ant colonies. Pavement ants will also readily nest in mulch in landscaping beds and under heavy piles of leaf litter.  Inside structures, they are commonly found foraging under the edge of carpets and the bottom of baseboards where the infestation is not easily visible. Pavement ants will be found foraging inside heated buildings throughout the year, although they are observed in greatest numbers during the summer. Activity on counters and around trash containers is common and any bit of food dropped on the floor can literally become black with ants within a short time. One of the more common places to find pavement ants entering a structure is the expansion joint in the slab inside along the bottom of sliding glass doors. This expansion joint is usually hidden by carpeting. Once the edge of the carpeting is pulled up enough to allow inspection, workers and piles of soil can be observed.

Contributing Conditions: As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. If possible, a vegetation-free border should be installed around the base of the foundation to make the area less attractive to ants and to make inspections of the foundation easier. Cracks in slab floors should be sealed with a high-quality compound, where possible, to help prevent ants from entering a structure from under the slab. Items under which pavement ants could nest should be removed. These items include boards, bricks, stones and logs.

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Big-Headed Ant

• Two nodes
• Worker size: 1/6 to 1/8 inch (1.5 to 3.5 mm)
• Uneven shape of thorax
• 12 antennal segments, 3-segmented club
• One pair of spines on thorax
• Light brown to dark reddish brown

ID Tip: Big-headed ants have two distinct sizes of workers — major workers and minor workers. Major workers are easily recognized by having very large heads in proportion to their bodies.

Feeding Habits: Big-headed ants feed on live and dead insects, seeds and the honeydew produced by homopterous insects (e.g., aphids, mealybugs and scale insects). In houses, they seem to prefer protein foods, such as meats and peanut butter, but will also feed on greases and sweets, such as fruit juices.

Key Inspection Tips: Big-headed ants forage in trails of a few up to hundreds of workers. These trails can usually be located without too much difficulty along sidewalks and foundations and up the extension sides of buildings. Inside: Big-headed ants trail along baseboards and are commonly found foraging under the edges of carpets. When these ants are found indoors, an attempt should be made to follow the foraging workers back to the site where the colony is located. If the ants are entering and exiting from under the wall, an inspection outside along the foundation is necessary to see if the ants inside are coming from a colony located outdoors. Outside: Grass or other vegetation should be pulled or raked away from the foundation of the building and along driveways and sidewalks. Colonies are often found in the soil beneath the grass next to the building’s foundation, and this is one of the first areas that should be checked. Big-headed ants also will nest and forage under the grass line along sidewalks and patios where they cannot be seen. Mulch should be raked back from the bases of trees and shrubs to check for ant colonies. Items in contact with the soil, such as logs, stones, firewood and other debris, should be lifted to check for colonies.

Contributing Conditions: As with most ants, moisture is a limiting factor in the survival of big-headed ants. If conditions exist which result in excess moisture (e.g., poor foundation drainage or water leaks), they should be corrected. As many cracks in the exterior walls as possible need to be sealed. If possible, a vegetation-free border should be installed around the base of the foundation to make the area less attractive to ants and to make inspections of the foundation easier. This vegetation-free border should contain gravel or small stones over plastic sheeting and not bark chips or mulch. Items under which big-headed ants could nest should be removed. These items include boards, bricks, stones and logs. Firewood should be stored off the ground and as far from the structure as possible.

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Acrobat Ant

• Two nodes
• Worker size: 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3 to 7 mm)
• Uneven thorax
• 12 antennal segments, 3-segmented club
• One pair of spines on thorax
• Color varies from brown to black to
reddish

ID Tip: The pedicel (nodes) attaches to the top of the gaster instead of the middle. The abdomen, when viewed from above, is shaped like a heart. Acrobat ants get their name from the habit of holding their abdomens above their thorax — like acrobats — when the workers or colony are disturbed.

Feeding Habits: Acrobat ants feed on a wide variety of foods including both sweets and proteins. Inside structures, acrobat ants will feed on household foods and show a reference for sweets.

Key Inspection Tips: Inspecting for colonies of acrobat ants is similar to an inspection for carpenter ants. When workers are found foraging indoors, the first place to inspect is the exterior of the structure. Outside: Inspect the building’s foundation for trails of workers. Workers may also be observed trailing on tree and shrub branches that brush against the structure. Wires and cables are another avenue for worker ants trailing onto the structure. The eaves of structures should be inspected for ant trails or workers entering cracks in the soffits. Signs of excess moisture should be noted along the fascia boards and under soffits. Such signs include warped boards, peeling paint and fungi on the surface of wood. Suspect areas in the soffits will need to be inspected more closely using a ladder. Inside: Acrobat ant colonies are most often found in areas where water leaks have occurred. It is important to ask the customer if they are aware of any water leaks in the building within the past several years. These areas should be inspected first. A moisture meter is helpful in locating areas of high moisture. Firewood stored inside should also be checked for ant colonies. Termite-damaged wood should be probed for the presence of colonies, particularly in basements and crawlspaces. When acrobat ants infest wood damaged by other insects, they often clear out bits of dirt and dead insects. This debris is often deposited in piles in visible areas and indicates the presence of an ant colony. Bits of foam in window sills or on door thresholds may indicate ants infesting foam insulation. Professionals may occasionally mistake these bits as evidence of powderpost beetles. Care should be taken to confirm the actual type of insect present.

Contributing Conditions: Dead wood and wood debris, as well as areas — both indoors and outdoors — that contain a high level of moisture content should be checked for ant activity. Any water leaks that are present must be corrected. Clogged gutters must be cleared. Tree and shrub branches which brush against the structure should be cut back. As many cracks and holes as possible in the building’s exterior should be sealed.