Ants

Ant Identification Guide

Carpenter Ant Genus Camponotus
APPEARANCE:

Among the largest ants, from one-fourth to three-eighths inch long; most common species is black, but some have reddish or yellowish coloration; workers have large mandibles.
HABITS:

Normally nest in dead portions of standing trees, stumps or logs, or burrow under fallen logs or stones; invade homes in search of food; nests inside homes can do great damage; hollow out "galleries" in wood that are so smooth they appear to be sandpapered.
DIET:

Do not eat wood; will feed on nearly anything people eat, particularly sweets and meats; also feed on other insects.

REPRODUCTION:

Queen lays 15 to 20 eggs the first year, and up to 30 eggs the second year; eggs complete their life cycle in about 60 days; worker ants can live up to seven years, while a queen may live up to 25 years.
OTHER INFORMATION:

All kinds of houses, regardless of age or type of construction, are vulnerable to infestation and damage by carpenter ants; very difficult to control; colonies can contain up to 3,000 workers.
Fire Ant Genus Solenopsis
APPEARANCE:

Reddish, about one-forth inch long.
HABITS:

Nest in mounds of one to two feet in diameter and about one and one-half feet high; large colonies can have up to 250,000 workers; very active and aggressive; will sting any intruding animal repeatedly.
DIET:

Omnivorous, known to eat meats, greasy and sweet materials.

REPRODUCTION:

Total time from egg to adult averages 30 days; workers live up to 180 days; queens live two to six years.

OTHER INFORMATION:

Has been known to remove rubber insulation from telephone wires; sting is painful and can kill young wildlife.
Odorous House Ant Tapinoma sessile
APPEARANCE:

Dark reddish brown to black, one-tenth inch long; antennae have 12 segments.
HABITS:
Nests found in a great variety of situations; in the home, often found nesting in the walls or beneath the floor; most likely to invade homes during rainy weather; travel in trails; forage day and night.
DIET:

Honeydew melons in the wild; inside the home,they prefer sweet items.
REPRODUCTION:

Each female in the nest lays one egg a day; young reach adulthood in an average of 24 days; workers and females live for several years.
OTHER INFORMATION:

When crushed, give off very unpleasant odor; colonies are very large, but can be driven away by invading Argentine ants.
Argentine Ant Iridomyrmex humilis
APPEARANCE:

From light to dark brown, about one-tenth inch long; antenna has 12 segments.
HABITS:

Readily adaptable and can nest in a great variety of situations; colonies are massive, and may contain hundreds of queens; nests are usually located in moist soil, next to or under buildings, along sidewalks or beneath boards; travel in trails; forage day and night.
DIET:

Omnivorous; can eat almost anything; prefer sweet foods.
REPRODUCTION:

Eggs are white, laid in summer; larvae emerge after about 28 days; adult stage reached in about 74 days.
OTHER INFORMATION:

Has no important natural enemy in the United States.
Pharoah Ant Monomorium pharaonis
APPEARANCE

Very small; light yellow to red, with black markings on abdomen; about one-sixteenth inch long.
HABITS:

Depends on artificial heating in human dwellings to survive; infestations commonly occur in food service areas; will nest in any well-protected and hidden areas throughout a structure; can nest outdoors in lawns or gardens.
DIET:

Food of all types, but especially sweets; will also eat other insects.
REPRODUCTION:

Grows from egg to adult in about 45 days; females live as long as 39 weeks and can lay about 400 eggs; workers only live up to 10 weeks.
OTHER INFORMATION:

The most persistent and difficult of all household ants to control; very large colonies, with up to several million workers and thousands of queens.
Pavement Ant Tetramorium caespitum
APPEARANCE:

Light brown to black, appendages lighter than rest of the body; about one-tenth inch long; parallel lines on head and thorax; antennae of 12 segments.

HABITS:

Invade homes foraging for food throughout the year; nests are outdoors under stones, along curbing or in cracks of pavement; can nest indoors in walls and under floors.
DIET:

Omnivorous; will eat many things, but prefer greasy and sweet foods.
REPRODUCTION:

Queen produces five to 20 eggs per day; brood develops in about 40 days; young go through 3 larval stages.
OTHER INFORMATION:

Slow-moving; a particular nuisance around homes with slab-on-grade construction.
Thief Ant Solenopsis molesta
APPEARANCE:

One of the smallest household ants, about one-thirty-second to one-sixteenth inch long; antennae have 10 segments; range in color from yellowish to brown.
HABITS:

Nests occur in a great variety of locations outside the home, especially under rocks; may nest indoors in cracks and cupboards.
DIET:

Feed on immature forms of other ants and insects; also attracted to greasy or high protein foods such as cheese and animal matter.
REPRODUCTION:

Queens lay an average of 105 eggs, which incubate for 16 to 28 days; larval stage may last 21 days in summer, but can last through the winter.
OTHER INFORMATION:

So small they are difficult to detect; very persistent, and therefore difficult to control.

The information provided on this page is Copyright 1995©, ORKIN Exterminating Company, Inc.
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