Types of ants

While there are more than 12,000 known species of ant, only a handful are a threat to your home’s privacy. Learn more about the different types of ants.

1. Common Types of Ants

2. ACROBAT ANT (CREMATOGASTER)
•Thenamederivedfromhowitraisesitsabdomenoveritshead
andthoraxwhendisturbed
•Workersarethesamesize,¹⁄16”–¹⁄8”(2.5–4mm)long,light
browntoblackincolor,have11-segmentedantennaewitha
three-segmentedclubandathoraxwithonepairofdorsal
spines
•Infestsfoaminsulationandstructures,preferringmoisture-
softenedwood
•Nestsinmoderatetolargecolonies,withswarmersactivefrom
mid-JunetolateSeptember
•Cansting,biteandemitarepulsiveodor

3. ACROBAT ANT(CREMATOGASTER)

4. CARPENTER ANT (CAMPONOTUS)
•Ithollowsoutgalleriesinmoistwoodfornests,whichcancause
structuraldamage
•Workersrangeinsizefrom¹⁄8”–¹⁄2”(3.5–13mm)long;are
blackwithcombinationsofredandblack,have12-segmented
antennaewithnoclub,evenlyroundedprofileonuppersideand
nostinger
•Coloniesusuallyhaveonequeen;canhavesatellitenests
separatefrommaincolonywithnoqueen
•SwarmersappearfromMaytoAugustintheEastandfrom
FebruarytoJuneintheWest
•Donotsting,butcanhavepainfulbitesandemitastrongacidic
odorwhendisturbed

5. CARPENTER ANT (CAMPONOTUS)

6. ODOROUS HOUSE ANT
(TAPINOMA SESSILE)
•Itnamedforstrong,rottencoconut-likeodoritproduceswhen
crushed
•Workersarethesamesizeand¹⁄16”–⅛”(2.4–3.3mm)long,
browntoblackincolor,have12-segmentedantennaewithno
club;nostinger
•Majorstructure-invadingspecies;constructsnestsnear
moisturesourcessuchasvoidsnearhotwaterpipesand
aroundsinks
•Preferssweetsbuteatsgreasyfoodssuchasmeatsand
cheeses
•Colonieshavemultiplequeens;antsfromdifferentcoloniesare
friendlyandmovealongtrails

7. ODOROUS HOUSE ANT
(TAPINOMA SESSILE)

8. PAVEMENT ANT
(TETRAMORIUM CAESPITUM)
•namedbecausenestsarecommonlylocatedinpavement
cracks
•Workersarethesamesize,¹⁄16”–⅛”(2.5–3mm)long,light
browntoblackwithpalerlegsandantennaeandaheadand
thoraxthatarefurrowed/groovedwithparallellines;has12-
segmentedantennae,withathree-segmentedclub,unevenly
roundedprofileandathoraxcontainingapairofsmallspines
•Nestsinsidewalls,insulationandunderfloorsandslabsnear
heatsourcesduringwinter
•SwarmersappearoutsideinJuneandJulybutcanemerge
anytimeinside;workersbiteandstingonlywhenprovoked

9. PAVEMENT ANT
(TETRAMORIUM CAESPITUM)

10. PHARAOH ANT
(MONOMORIUM PHARAONIS)
•namedforLinneaus’mistakenbeliefthatthisantwasoneof
Egypt’splaguesduringthetimeofthepharaohs
•Workersarethesamesize,¹⁄16”(1.5mm)longwithapale,
yellowishtoreddishbodyanddarkerabdomen,anunevenly
roundedprofile,stingerand12-segmentedantennaewitha
three-segmentedclub
•Nestsinsidewarm,humidareasnearfoodandwatersources;
commonincommercialbuildings;ofconcerninhospitalswhere
theywillenterpatientwounds,IVbottlesandtubes;cancarry
morethanadozenpathogenicbacteria
•Nestsaredifficulttofindastheytendtobehiddeninwallvoids
andbehindbaseboards

11. PHARAOH ANT
(MONOMORIUM PHARAONIS)

12. THIEF ANT (SOLENOPSIS MOLESTA)
•Workersarethesamesize,¹⁄16”(1.3mm)long,paleyellowish
todarkbrown,have10-segmentedantennaewithatwo-
segmentedclub,anunevenlyroundedprofileandminiscule
stinger
•Nestsnearotherantspeciesandrobsthemoffood;foragesin
trailsandprefershigh-proteinfoodsandsweets
•Nestsinsideinsmallcrevices,woodworkandmasonry;
commonlyentersstructuresduringhotweather
•Maycarrydisease,asitisknowntofeedondeadanimals

13. THIEF ANT (SOLENOPSIS MOLESTA)