ARGENTINE ANT 

• Body varies from light to dark brown
• 1/16 to 1/4 inch long
• Smooth thorax without spine
• 12 antennal segments
• No club
• 1-segmented pedicel
• Profile is unevenly rounded
• No stinger
• Workers, when crushed, emit stale musty or greasy odor

Argentine Ant Identification

• Argentine ants are found in the southern states, California, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington and Maryland.
• This ant generally nests close to a source of moisture such as a water pipe, sink or potted plant.
• Colonies are generally very large as colonies of argentine ants are friendly and will often combine with other groups of the same species. Colonies can grow so large that they may cover an entire garden or the entire back yard.
• When outdoors, argentine ants are typically found in shallow nests in moist places such as under boards, stones and plants.
• Argentine ants enjoy sweet foods such as sugar and syrup, but they’re also known to eat seeds, meat, fats and oil. They’re even known to disrupt bee hives and attack baby chicks.

Threats

Because argentine ants tend to crawl over anything – including sewage, carrion and sputum – if they crawl on your food, they can become vectors of disease organisms.

To Control an Argentine Ant Infestation
Argentine ants can be difficult to control. Leave out large ant bait stations for them, even after you believe the infestation is taken care of.

CARPENTER ANT

• Winged males are smaller than winged queens
• Range from 1/4to 5/8 inch
• Range in color from red to black
• One node
• Do have antennae
• Worker’s thorax has an evenly rounded surface
• Workers have a large head and small thorax
• Adult swarmers have a smaller head and a large thorax

Carpenter Ant Identification

• The carpenter ant is the most common pest ant found across the northern US.
• Colonies of carpenter ants require a constant source of moisture to survive so they are most often found outside in dead wood including limbs, tree holes, stumps, and so on.
• Though they get their name because they build their nests in wood, carpenter ants do not eat wood. You may find tiny piles of discarded wood near outside entrances to a carpenter ant colony.
• Carpenter ants eat many types of foods, including other insects. Adult carpenter ants prefer sweet honeydew, produced by other insects.

Threat

The largest impact a carpenter ant can have on humans is financial. They can do structural damage by weakening wood, including the wood that keeps a house standing.

To Control a Carpenter Ant Infestation

Uncle Albert’s Super Smart™ ant bait is effective against carpenter ant infestations in most areas of the US.

CORNFIELD ANTS

• Brown to dark brown in color
• 1/10 to 1/4 inch long
• Large eyes on the head
• 12 antennal segments
• No club
• One node
• Fringe of hairs at the end of the abdomen
• Uneven thorax
• First segment of antenna is shorter than the head

Cornfield Ant Identification

• In relation to its head, the eyes of the cornfield ant are quite large.
• When cornfield ants are present, you may find numerous mounds around lawns, in fields and around homes between bricks in walkways, under rocks, in pavement cracks, landscaping much, etc.
• The cornfield ant likes moisture and can be found near bathtubs and showers where leaks have occurred. Cornfield ants like fungus damage and decay.
• Cornfield ants eat flower nectar, insects, and may invade your home for sweets where they will proceed to eat any crumbs they can find.

The cornfield ants establish very strong trails that are quite easy to find. They will follow structural guidelines, usually along the edge of a sidewalk or walk way. You will find small piles of displaced soil, as they build soil nests.

If you suspect you have a cornfield ant infestation, literally inspect underneath anything in contact with the ground for a colony.

To Control a Cornfield Ant Infestation

Since the cornfield ant does not normally enter the home, bait stations aren’t the most efficient control solution. Treat nests directly with a liquid ant bait instead.

CRAZY ANTS

• Dark brown to black
• 1/10 inch long
• Slender long legs
• 12 antennal segments
• No club
• One node
• Profile of thorax is not evenly rounded
• Abdomen tip features a circular fringe of hairs

Crazy Ant Identification

• Crazy ants get their name from the way they appear to run around aimlessly around a room, zigzagging with no sense of direction.
• They are common to all Gulf Coast states and crazy ants are also found in northern cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
• Crazy ants usually nest outside under items in contact with the ground, mulch, tree bark, in potted plants or wood piles.
• Crazy ants can be found nesting inside homes as well, beneath carpeting and in other suitable dark places.
• Crazy ants enjoy feeding on sweets, grease, kitchen scraps, animal matter and insects.
• Crazy ants have strikingly long legs and antennae.

If you suspect a crazy ant infestation, try following the trail to find out where they’re headed. Crazy ants are usually found in trails carrying bits of food and their abdomens are generally swollen with water or food since they’re likely returning back to the colony after a feast.

Crazy ants love to nest under any type of pile, especially piles in shaded, damp areas. Move away landscape mulch from building foundations and at the base of trees and shrubs to see if you have a crazy ant colony.

These ants will travel very long distances in search of food, so you must thoroughly inspect your entire property to find the colony.

To Control a Crazy Ant Infestation

Crazy ants are known for not feeding on ant bait stations, so you will have to treat the nests directly with a gel or liquid ant bait.

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