Ants

ALLEGHENY MOUND ANTS

Allegheny Mound Ant

DESCRIPTION

The Allegheny Mound Ant (Formica exsectoides) is a type of ant native to the Atlantic area of North America. Often very striking in appearance, these ants have a red-orange head and thorax with black-brown gasters. They have 1 node. Mound ants are generally between 1/8” – 1/4” long.

CARPENTER ANTS

Carpenter Ant
Photo Credit: Tom Myers

DESCRIPTION

Workers are large (1/8-1/2”) but vary greatly in size, Queens about (1/2-5/8”) Colors vary from black, red and brownish or black and red. Carpenter ants are 1 noded ants with an evenly rounded thorax. Development time (egg to adult) takes at least 60 days. There is only one wingless queen per colony. Colonies contain up to 3,000 workers when maturity is reached in about 3 to 6 years. Swarmers (winged) are not produced until the colony is at least 2 years old.

PHARAOH ANTS

Pharaoh Ant
Photo Credit: April Nobile

DESCRIPTION

The Pharaoh Ant is a tiny ant about 1/10-1/16” long. Worker ants are reddish-yellow, the queen is usually darker red and males are black.

Key Characteristics

Small size with 3 segmented club on antennae, well-developed eyes, a bi-nodal petiole (narrow waist between thorax and abdomen) and no stinger present.

Food

Omnivorous, feeding generally on animal or vegetable food, dead insects, small animals, open wounds, shed human skin on bedding, sucrose and IV solutions, sweets and fats.

Behind the Boards: Understanding Carpenter Ant Behavior and Infestation Patterns

When it comes to pest infestations, carpenter ants are one of the biggest concerns for business owners in Canada. Known for their ability to carve into wood, these little insects can pose serious risks to the structure of commercial settings such as warehouses, offices, and industrial facilities. But what are the signs your property has…

Ants can fly, and that’s not all!

Although flying ants may be more anxiety-inducing than their wingless counterparts, they don’t represent any greater threat. Here’s what you need to know about these small critters. Why do some ants have wings? The ants you see scurrying around on the ground are wingless females. They do all the work within the colony, but are…

How ants can damage your home and how to get rid of them

Ants never give you the warm fuzzies, but of the various species, the common carpenter ants are the most destructive to your home. They dig through the wood in the structure of your house to make safe spaces to hide. Once inside, they keep burrowing and can destroy insulation and any wood in your home,…

Test Your Knowledge: Carpenter Ant Quiz

We created this Carpenter Ant quiz for you to test your knowledge! Can you beat the Carpenter Ants? Check your answers with the answer key posted below. Males are ________________ than females. SmallerLargerThe only function of male ants is to ______________ during swarming.Find Food for the femalesGuard the nestBurrow through the woodMate with femalesCircle the things…