Color Mahogany to rusty brown; red after a blood meal
Legs Six
Shape Flat; broad oval
Size 1/4 inches
Antennae Yes
Flying No
Region All 50
Argentine Ants
DescriptionArgentine ant colonies can grow to monumental size. Their colony borders sometimes cover entire habitats. Argentine ant queens also assist with foraging for food. The ant gives off a musty odor when crushed. Worker argentine ants are about one sixteenth of an inch long. Queen argentine ants are one eighth of an inch to one quarter of an inch long.
Color
Dark brown to black; shiny
Legs
Six
Shape
Segmented; oval
Size
1/16-1/4 inches
Antennae
Yes
Flying
Rare winged swarmers
Region
AL, AR, CA, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, OR, SC, TN, WA
Description
Carpenter ants get their name because they excavate wood in order to build their nests. Their excavation results in smooth tunnels inside the wood (formicarium). Carpenter ants range in size from one-quarter inch for a worker ant to up to three-quarters inch for a queen.
Color
Varies depending on species, from red to black or a combination. The two most common species are black.
Legs
Six
Shape
Segmented; oval
Size
5/8 inches
Antennae
Yes
Flying
Winged swarmers
Region
Contiguous states
Size ranges from one-fourth inch for a worker ant to up to three-fourths inch for a queen in the most common species.
May range from red to black in color.
Build nests in deteriorating, moist wood; often the colony will extend its nest into adjacent, sound wood.
Are commonly found in porch pillars and roofs, window sills, telephone poles, live and dead trees, rotting logs and stumps and wood in contact with soil.
Do not actually eat the wood removed during nest-building activities; rather, deposit it outside entrances to the colony in small piles.
Pest Facts: Odorous House AntsImages
DescriptionThis ant gets its name from the strong, rotten coconut-like smell it gives off when crushed. These tiny insects range in size from one-sixteenth of an inch to one-eighth of an inch long.
Pest Facts
Color
Brown or black
Legs
Six
Shape
Segmented; oval
Size
1/16-1/8 inches
Antennae
Yes
Flying
Winged swarmers
Region
All 50, AR, CA, KY, MS, NJ, OR, TN, VA, WA
HabitsOdorous house ants like to eat sweets, especially melon.
HabitatTypically living for several years, these ants make their homes in exposed soil and wall voids.
ThreatsThese ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided.
PreventionEliminate standing water. Pests such as odorous house ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Pest Facts: Pavement AntsImages
DescriptionPavement ants get their name because they make their nests in or under cracks in pavement. They can infest structures.
Pest Facts
Color
Dark brown to blackish
Legs
Six
Shape
Segmented; oval
Size
1/8 inches
Antennae
Yes
Flying
Winged swarmers
Region
All 50
HabitsThese ants will eat almost anything, including insects, seeds, honeydew, honey, bread, meats, nuts and cheese.
HabitatThese ants live in or under pavement cracks.
ThreatsThese ants do not pose a public health risk, but they can contaminate food and should be avoided. They are not aggressive, but can bite and sting.
PreventionEliminate standing water. Pests, such as ants, are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home.* Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Description
Red imported fire ants nest in soil and build mound nests. They can infest garages.
Color
Dark reddish brown
Legs
Six
Shape
Segmented; oval
Size
1/8-3/8 inches
Antennae
Yes
Flying
Winged swarmers
Region
Southeastern U.S. from Virginia to Texas
Habits
These ants will build large mound nests, and will sting humans who come across a nest.
Habitat
Red imported fire ants will build their nest mounds outdoors in landscape areas or near a structural foundation. The ant will gain entry to a building through holes or cracks.
Threats
The sting of a red imported fire ant is painful and often results in a raised welt that becomes a white pustule. Often, a person stung by a red imported fire ant receives multiple painful stings from more than one of the ants. Persons allergic to insect stings will react more severely.
Prevention
Red imported fire ants and their telltale mound nests should be actively avoided. To prevent entry into a structure, seal all internal and external cracks and crevices.
Habits Bed bugs like to travel and will hide in suitcases, boxes and shoes to be near a food supply. They are elusive, nocturnal creatures. They can hide behind baseboards, electrical switch plates, picture frames, even wall paper. They come out at night for a blood meal.
Habitat Bed bugs like to hide in small cracks and crevices close to a human environment. They can be found behind baseboards, wallpaper, upholstery, and in furniture crevices.
Threats Although bed bugs can dine on any warm-blooded animal, they primarily dine on humans. Bed bugs do not transmit diseases, but their bites can become red, itchy welts.
Prevention Vacuum suitcases after returning from a vacation. Check your bedsheets for tell-tale blood spots. Bed bugs are elusive creatures, so it is imperative to seek professional pest control to address an infestation.
Habits Argentine ants deposit trails continuously, instead of just from nest to food source. This habit ensures they do not waste time visiting the same area for food. They prefer to eat sweets but they will eat almost anything including meats, eggs, oils and fats.
Habitat Argentine ant colonies are located in wet environments near a food source.
Threats Argentine ants do not pose a health threat, but they can contaminate food.
Prevention Eliminate standing water. Pests, such as Argentine ants are attracted to moisture. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
Habits
All species mainly attack wood that is or has been wet and damaged by mold. Even though these ants first invade wet, decayed wood, they may soon begin building paths through dry, undamaged wood. They usually come into buildings through cracks around doors, windows, or through holes for wires. They will also crawl along overhead wires, shrubs, or tree limbs that touch the building far above the ground.
Habitat
Carpenter ants build their nests outdoors in various wood sources, including tree stumps, firewood or landscaping. They need a constant water source to survive. They will enter homes through wet, damaged wood.
Threats
Carpenter ants damage wood through their nest building. If they gain entry to a structure, they pose a property threat. They can convey a painful bite with pronounced mandibles and injection of formic acid into the wound.
Prevention
Because carpenter ants require a water source, eliminate sources of moisture or standing water. Keep tree branches and other plants cut back from the house. Sometimes pests use these branches to get into your home. Make sure that there are no cracks or little openings around the bottom of your house. Sometimes pests use these to get into your home. Make sure that firewood and building materials are not stored next to your home. Pests like to build nests in stacks of wood.
