Types of Ants, Ant Identification

Velvety tree ants get their name from most being tree nesters with velvety smooth abdomens. Workers will bite if the colony is disturbed. Their diet consists of insects, honeydew, and nectar. Indoors, they nest in wall voids.

Ghost ants are tiny, and two-toned. Their colonies have multiple queens, satellite mounds, and are quite large. They originated in the Caribbean and migrated over time. Honeydew is a favorite food. These ants infest indoors.

Moisture ant is used to describe multiple species that nest in damp areas – indoors and outdoors. The best way to eliminate an infestation is removing by their preferred nesting conditions. Their food of choice is honeydew.

The term field ant is used for a group of ant species that nest in the ground. Often, people misidentify them. These feed on insects and honeydew. They will travel indoors looking for food and mates in late summer.

Citronella ants get their name from the odor produced when a worker is crushed. These are ground-nesting ants and pests to humans when they invade indoors. They push dirt to the surface when digging galleries for their nest.

Bigheaded ants get their names from the major workers that defend the mound. They like to nest in soil near homes. Their diet is mostly seeds, insects, and honeydew. These ants do forage inside homes and buildings.

Allegheny mound ants are part of the group “Field ants” and range from Nova Scotia to Georgia. They are ground nesting with multiple queens in a mound. Workers bite if its disturbed. Primary fare is honeydew and insects.

Acrobat ants bite aggressively and produce a foul smell for defense. They vary in color and feed on honeydew. Outdoors, the ants live in hollow trees or logs. Indoors, they clear spaces within walls and insulation.

The term “white ants” often describes termites. These are not close relatives but do have a few similarities. Both live in colonies, reproduce alike, and are pests of humans. They have different diets, bodies, and coloring.

A queen ant is the central member of a colony. She produces eggs and controls all activity within. Her reign starts by mating with a reproductive male winged ant. She burrows into the ground to begin building her queendom.

Grease ants, also called thief ants, are very small. They prey on insects and steal other ants’ food outside and enter homes attracted to foods with protein, fats, and oils. Cracks allow them inside and provide nesting.

Flying ants and flying termites have three body parts that differ: wings, waist, and antennae. Observing the differences may take a magnifying glass. A pest control expert can identify and create a treatment plan for both.

A leafcutter ant colony can remove the leaves from a tree in one night. These ants divide the work based on size – largest is .5″ long and smallest is 1/16″ long. They nest in the soil and are active during evening and night.

Winged ants can be the first indication of an infestation. They have the single purpose of mating, and a colony will swarm in the spring or summer. Their wings, waist, and antennae differentiate them from winged termites.

“Red ants” is a common term for several types of ants including the red harvester ant and red imported fire ant. Harvesters are known for clearing around their nest. Importeds deliver a painful bite and nest in sunny areas.