BLACK CARPENTER ANT
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
FIELD ANT
Characteristics: Large ants, (3/8-inch) often confused with Carpenter ants. Wide variation in color: black, brown, tan, reddish, or red and black in color. Sometimes field ants are commonly called thatching ants because of their habit of constructing mound of thatch of plant material, often grass. Habits:Field ants are common around structures, but are not often found inside. These ants are soil nesters and may construct mounds in open fields. In lawns, these nests have a low profile. rarely reaching above the top of the grass. They also nest under objects like rocks, landscape timbers and firewood piles. Displaced soil is often evident. Items such as stones, logs, and bricks should be overturned and inspected for colonies underneath. Field ants don’t normally invade homes very often. When the do enter homes it just because they are searching for sweets. Field ants primarily feed on honeydew from aphids, mealy-bugs, scale insects found on trees and shrubs.
Characteristics: Large ants, (3/8-inch) often confused with Carpenter ants. Wide variation in color: black, brown, tan, reddish, or red and black in color. Sometimes field ants are commonly called thatching ants because of their habit of constructing mound of thatch of plant material, often grass. Habits:Field ants are common around structures, but are not often found inside. These ants are soil nesters and may construct mounds in open fields. In lawns, these nests have a low profile. rarely reaching above the top of the grass. They also nest under objects like rocks, landscape timbers and firewood piles. Displaced soil is often evident. Items such as stones, logs, and bricks should be overturned and inspected for colonies underneath. Field ants don’t normally invade homes very often. When the do enter homes it just because they are searching for sweets. Field ants primarily feed on honeydew from aphids, mealy-bugs, scale insects found on trees and shrubs.
ODOROUS HOUSE ANT
Characteristics:Small workers, around 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch (2-3 mm); dark brown to black. Bitter odor when crushed - said to smell like rotten coconuts. Habits:Odorous house ants are the most common ant species that will invade homes in Missouri and the central United States. These ants can nests in a wide variety of places outdoors and inside. Odorous House ants commonly construct shallow nests in soil underneath objects, such as stones, patio blocks and debris. Inside, they prefer areas with moisture such as around hot water pipes and heaters, but also will nest in crevices around sinks and cabinets. The ants forage when temperatures are cool, even down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Strongly trailing ants!You can commonly find their trails along foundations, flower beds, sidewalks and driveways. Odorous house ants prefer sweet items to feed onin and around homes but also eat foods with high protein content and grease such as meats and cheese. Outside your home they will feed on honeydew which they get from aphids.
Characteristics:Small workers, around 1/16-inch to 1/8-inch (2-3 mm); dark brown to black. Bitter odor when crushed - said to smell like rotten coconuts. Habits:Odorous house ants are the most common ant species that will invade homes in Missouri and the central United States. These ants can nests in a wide variety of places outdoors and inside. Odorous House ants commonly construct shallow nests in soil underneath objects, such as stones, patio blocks and debris. Inside, they prefer areas with moisture such as around hot water pipes and heaters, but also will nest in crevices around sinks and cabinets. The ants forage when temperatures are cool, even down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Strongly trailing ants!You can commonly find their trails along foundations, flower beds, sidewalks and driveways. Odorous house ants prefer sweet items to feed onin and around homes but also eat foods with high protein content and grease such as meats and cheese. Outside your home they will feed on honeydew which they get from aphids.
RED CARPENTER ANT
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
WINGED BLACK CARPENTER ANT
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
Characteristics: Black Carpenter Ants are relatively large. Known mostly by color, this type of ant also has 1 segement to its waist and a long abdomen containing lightly-colored dull hairs. Carpenter ants are mostly black, but their colors can also range from black and red or even solid red. Though their name suggests otherwise, Carpenter ants do not eat wood and instead feed on plant juices and other insects. Black Carpenter Ants do bite and can spray formic acid, but they do not possess the ability to sting their prey. Habits:Most carpenter ant species establish their first nest in decayed wood and later expand or enlarge this into sound wood.Inside structures, nest are located in wood (preferably softened by fungus rot or water damage) in insulation, and/or wall voids.Worker carpenter ants are a nuisance when out searching for food but are destructive to timbers utilized for nesting activities.Outside structures, nests are typically in rotting fence posts, stumps, old firewood, dead portions of standing trees, and under stones or fallen logs. Swarming carpenter ants can appear inside or outside homes and structures from spring to fall in central Missouri. Swarming black carpenter ants can easily be mistaken for swarming termites if found inside homes and structures.
