Upstate New York has several native ant species and they may be right in your yard. Read on to spot the differences between them.
- Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are large ants and can be black, red or a combination of those colors. They have three body segments, a narrow waist, large heads, elbowed antennae, and sometimes wings. Worker ants are about 1/4 to 5/8 inch long, while winged kings and queens are up to 3/4 inch long. They form a genus of more than 1,000 species known for nesting in dead or decaying wood. Carpenter ants play an important role in decomposing dead wood and are essential in ecosystems. However, they can cause extensive damage to human-built structures.
- Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants are dark brown or black and approximately 1/8 inch long. Their thorax is unevenly shaped and there is a single node on their petiole, which is hidden by their abdomen. However, the telltale sign of the odorous ant is the foul smell that is released when their body is crushed. They are also identifiable by being small, approximately 3 mm in length, brownish in color and no visible node due to their abdomen. They prefer sweets but will eat dead insects and grease. They develop large colonies with several thousand workers and many queens.
- Pharaoh Ants
The Pharaoh Ant is a tiny ant species that is yellow or a light brownish color. They usually have a pinched thorax. Aside from their color, they look a lot like a typical black ant. They can be difficult to control because they spread fast once they have infested your property. They are most active at night but can also be spotted during the day. Pharaoh ant workers have a non-functional stinger used to generate pheromones and do not sting for any other purpose. Some have wings, but they don’t fly. They are known for being a pest frequently found in hospitals. They prefer to nest near sources of food and water. Their social system includes having several queens, which ensures rapid colony growth. They like to eat fatty and protein-rich food and prefer warm and moist places in the house.
- Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are small, typically measuring about 1/8 inch in length. They are black or dark brown in color and have lighter legs and antennae. Their bodies have three segments: head, thorax and abdomen. There are parallel lines on their head and thorax. They tend to nest outdoors under stones, along curbs or in cracks of pavement. They invade buildings while foraging for food.
If you would like to learn about ant control options for your home or business, please contact us for a free inspection. We offer residential pest control and commercial pest control for the greater Capital District area including Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Rensselaer Counties.