ANTS

Odorous House Ant Tapinoma sessile

Size: 1/12 - 1/8 inch long

Color: brownish black

The odorous house ant emits a rotten coconut- like odor when they are crushed.

Their nests in soil are usually shallow, they are often found beneath objects such as stacked lumber, firewood, bricks, rocks, stone, loose bark on trees, and cardboard. Although their nest is usually outside, they can invade homes and their nest inside are usually found in areas near moisture such as wall voids, near pipes and heaters, bath traps, wood damaged by termites, and beneath toilets.

Their colonies are large and usually contain may active queens.

Pharaoh Ant Monomorium pharaonis

Size: 1/15 - 1/12 inch long

Color: Yellowish to reddish brown

These ants are found indoors and in the tropics they often nest outdoors. They are usually found nesting in cracks and crevices with sufficient warmth and humidity. They are also found in kitchens, laundry rooms, and bathrooms near water sources. Pharaoh ants can be found in wall voids, under floors, and behind baseboard and windowsills.

Pavement Ant Tetramorium caespitum

Size: 1/8 - 1/6 inch

Color: blackish brown with paler legs and antenna

The pavement ant derives its name from its habit of nesting beside and under sidewalks, driveways, and foundations. They typically emerge from under baseboards, expansion joints, heat registers, and false ceilings.

Acrobat Ant Crematogaster spp.

Size: 1/10 - 1/6 inch

Color: yellowish-brown to red and black

The acrobat ant gets its name from their ability to acrobatically raise their abdomen over their thorax and head, when alarmed.

The ants nest in a variety of sites, usually in dead wood, including branches and stems of trees, and other plants, rotten logs, tree holes, and stumps.

Inside they nest in woodworks such as door and window frames that have been damaged by insects or moisture.

The ant feeds on live and dead insects and honey dew

Larger Yellow Ant (Citronella) Acanthomyops interjectus

Size: 1/8 - 3/16

Color:  reddish yellow to reddish-brown

They have a distinct lemon-like smell when alarmed or crushed, it is also called citronella or perfumed yellow ant because of the odor.

This ant is a nuisance when the winged ants swarm indoors or when workers dump soil from cracks in the floor or basement. Many often mistake them for termites. The ants prefer to nest in soil along the foundation of structures.

Field Ant Formica spp.

Size: 1/8 - 3/8 inch

Color: black, brown, yellowish, bicolored red and black.

Field ant mounds can reach a foot in diameter. They prefer nesting in soil in open areas, some species incorporates all twigs, grass stems, leaves, or pine needles. While they do not nest in homes, they may enter households and structures when searching for food.

They feed on honey dew.

Carpenter Ant Camponotus spp.

Size: 1/4 - 3/4 inch

Color: blackish or very dark bodied, they can also have brown or reddish coloration along with the black.

Carpenter ants enter buildings to nest or forge. They are called “carpenters”, because they excavate their nest in wood creating smooth tunnels and galleries. They generally excavate in wood that is decayed or damaged by other insects. Homes or buildings located by woodlands are a prime candidate for carpenter ant infestations. The colony is generally located in a tree, stump, stack of firewood, and landscape logging. Wood that is moist and partially decayed is preferred by the ant.

Often the ants move into the home or building solely to scavenge and feed. They sometimes enter the home via tree limbs or wires that touch the house. Indoor nests maybe found in windowsills, hollow doors, porch substructures, roofs, base boards, fireplaces, and shingles.

The carpenter ant diet consists of animal and plant foods, they will also eat live and dead insects. The ant eats aphid honey dew and, in the home, they will eat foods such as honey, syrup, jelly and sugar. Carpenter ants will travel 100 yards or more from their nest for food.