PAVEMENT ANT

• Dark brown to black in colo
• 1/16 – 1/8 inch long
• Distinguishable by parallel grooves in the head and thorax
• 12-segmented antennae
• 3-segmented club
• Stinger present
• Uneven thorax
• Pair of spines on upper back of thorax
• 2-segmented pedicel

Pavement Ant Identification

• Pavement ants are found in the Eastern United States, California and Washington.
• The pavement ant can live inside but gets its name from the nests they make in cracks in pavement, slabs, sidewalks and driveways.
• When indoors, pavement ants can nest under a building’s foundation.
• Sometimes a colony will carry soil into a void in a foundation wall to build a nest. If you have piles of soil appearing under baseboards or on the garage floor, you probably have a pavement ant infestation.
• Workers, although not aggressive, may bite and they can sting.

Pavement ants will eat anything; grease, seeds, nuts, cheese, meat, bread, honey and other insects. They forage in trails up to 30 feet long.

To Control a Pavement Ant Infestation

Ant bait stations can be used to control a pavement ant infestation.

PHARAOH ANT

• Yellow to reddish-brown in color
• Hind portion of abdomen darker in color than the rest
• Very tiny; 1/16 inches long
• 12 antennal segments
• Spineless thorax
• 2 Nodes
• 3-segmented club

Pharaoh Ant Identification

• The pharaoh ant is a serious nuisance in rest homes, apartment buildings, hotels, hospitals, grocery stores, restaurants etc. because of their ability to transmit disease.
• They may be found in surgical wounds, IV glucose solutions and sterile packs of dressing in hospitals.
• The pharaoh ant feeds on jelly, honey, peanut butter, corn syrup, juice, soft drinks, dead insects, grease and even shoe polish.
• The pharaoh ant can’t survive outdoors year round in temperate climates such as the United States, where cold temperatures occur. They can only survive year-round outdoors in areas such as Florida and Hawaii.
• They can be most often in heated buildings and usually in the warmest, most moist area such as the kitchen or bathroom.
• Pharaoh ants will nest anywhere they can find protection including inside walls, furniture and appliances, in between folds of sheets in linen closets or even in hollow curtain rods, inside irons, etc. The pharaoh ant is extremely opportunistic in choosing where they nest.

Threats

Pharaoh ants are capable of transmitting Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas infections in hospitals.

To Control a Pharaoh Ant Infestation

It is imperative that you have a positive identification of pharaoh ants before you begin to treat for them as certain types of ant control products can lead to an increased number of pharaoh ants.

Ant bait stations can control a pharaoh ant infestation. Place them everywhere ants might be found including in cabinets, on window sills, baseboards, under the stove, behind the fridge, etc.

RED IMPORTED FIRE ANT

• Reddish body with shiny dark brown gaster
• 1/16 – 1/5 inch long
• 4 teeth on the mandible
• 10-segmented antennae
• 2-segmented club
• 2-segmented pedicel

Red Imported Fire Ant Identification

• Red imported fire ants came from central Brazil and are now found in the southeastern US from Virginia through Texas.
• Red imported fire ant mounds can reach 18 inches high and 24 inches wide, and will become dome-shaped within 2-3 years.
• The mound of the fire ant must be avoided at all costs because of their painful stings.
• Red imported fire ants are the most aggressive species of ant and will swarm and attack in large numbers.
• They travel in trails along sidewalks, patios, up sides of buildings, along baseboards and will nest in mounds with more than one opening in lawns or soil generally in open sunny areas near a source of water.
• Red imported fire ants can adapt to many climates and conditions. For example, when sensing increased water levels in their nests, red imported fire ants will literally join together to form a huge ball or raft that can float.
• They will enter buildings through cracks or holes in foundations and walls.
• Red imported fire ants feed mostly on vegetation but will eat live insects, dead animals, honeydew, sweets, fats and proteins.

Threat

The painful sting of the red imported fire ant will often result in a raised welt that turns into a white blister. If you are allergic to insect stings, you will likely have a severe reaction.

Red imported fire ants’ mounds can destroy roots of crops as well.

To Control a Red Imported Fire Ant Infestation

Ant bait stations are slower to work to destroy a red imported fire ant infestation than direct application of liquid or gel ant bait on the nest, but they can be effective.  This is one of the most difficult ants to control, and may require repeat applications.

CONTINUE TO PAGE 5