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- Latin Name: Pogonomyrmex californicus
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: California Harvester Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
These are native ants in the western U.S.
Biology:
As with most other harvester ants the California species rarely enters structures. They restrict their diet to seeds found outside, and forage at dusk for these natural foods. In agricultural fields they may be a problem as they gather seeds intended as crops. The nest usually is seen as one or more holes surrounded by a wide, cleared circle with a ring of soil at the perimeter. The harvester ants are capable of stinging but would do so only when directly threatened, such as when confined within clothing or if a person stands or sits on a nest opening or on foraging ants. They most often are found in dry climates and create nests deep underground. The
- Latin Name: Camponotus sp.
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Carpenter Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Many species of these ants are native to North America, with several species seemingly the most likely to invade structural wood members. There are many destructive species in the Pacific Northwest states, as well as from Florida to the northeast to the southwest and in Hawaii.
Biology:
The usual habitat of a colony of carpenter ants is within wood, often wood buried or partially buried in the soil. They also commonly establish “satellite” colonies that may be in a structure, maintaining contact between the two colonies with the workers who travel to and from over well-defined trails. Generally there is a single queen in the colony but often supplementary queens as well. Colonies typically are around 15,000 workers
- Latin Name: Lasius alienus
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Cornfield Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Native to North America, and primarily a pest problem in the Midwest to the Northeast states, although it appears to occur from California to Florida as well.
Biology:
This is primarily a soil nesting species, but nests may be under porches or other debris close to a structure, and the workers forage within the structure for protein or sugar substances. Natural foods include other insects as well as honeydew. Nest openings can be distinguished by the noticeable low mound of soil, about 8 to 10 inches in diameter, in lawns or open areas.
Identification:
This is a large ant, and similar to Field or Carpenter ants. However, it has no noticeable ocelli between the compound eyes and it has a distinct
- Latin Name: Paratrechina Sp.
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Crazy Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Believed to be native to India, but now found throughout the world. It is most common in the U.S. from Florida to Texas along the Gulf Coast, but also occurs in other states from California to New York, as well as in Hawaii.
Biology:
This is a single-node ant whose common name comes from their habit of running around erratically, with no apparent purpose. Their extremely long legs and antennae tend to accentuate this behavior. Nests may be established in a wide variety of situations, from wet to dry habitats, in the soil under other objects, in tree holes, under mulch, in potted plant soils, or in other odd cavities they find. Within structures they nest in wall voids or under objects that are not moved for a period of time.
- Latin Name: Technomyrmex difficilis
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Difficult Ant
- Other Names: White-footed Ant
Origin:
Native to Southeast Asia and possibly the Australian region, but now spreading throughout much of the world. It is common in Florida and Hawaii and has been found as far west as California.
Biology:
This is a very important ant species, with colonies and their connected satellite colonies that may have several million adult ants in them. This includes many thousands of potential reproductive ants, and new colonies are begun by both swarming flights and by budding. Nests are commonly created above ground in trees or thick shrubbery, as well as stumps or hollow logs. Sweet foods are their primary nutrition, and unlike almost all other species of ants they do not share food from larvae to workers. Instead,
- Latin Name: Myrmica rubra
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: European Fire Ant
- Other Names: European red ant, Fire Ant of the North
Origin:
This species is native to cold regions of Asia and Europe and was discovered in the Upper Northeast of the U.S. as early as 1908 in Massachusetts and in Maine in the 1950’s. Its range has expanded and it now is present in much of the northeast U.S. and southeastern Canada.
Biology:
While it is not as aggressive as the Red Imported Fire Ant this species still aggressively defends its nests, attacking intruders in large numbers and inflicting painful stings. They are evolved from cold climates and prefer to be near wet habitats. Colonies are located under logs, in the soil, within thick grassy areas, and under other debris on the soil. A colony has multiple queens and may grow to
- Latin Name: Formica sp.
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Field Ant
- Other Names: Thatch ant, mound ant, silky ant
Origin:
Many species in this genus are native to North America, and are found commonly throughout the continent.
Biology:
These are fairly large, single-node species, with colors ranging from black to brown to reddish, or combinations of these colors. They rarely invade structures, but are common in wooded or grassy areas outdoors. They cannot sting, but they will readily bite to cause a slight opening in the skin, and then spray formic acid onto the bite wound to cause a stinging sensation. Their common names are derived from their habit of creating large above-ground mounds of vegetation with their colony nesting inside. The field ants are particularly fond of sweet materials and will forage for honeydew.
- Latin Name: Camponotus floridanus
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Florida Carpenter Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
These are native species in Florida and nearby states.
Biology:
This species is just one of several found in Florida but is one of the most common found around residential areas. The usual habitat of a colony of carpenter ants is within wood, often wood buried or partially buried in the soil. They also commonly establish “satellite” colonies that may be in a structure, maintaining contact between the two colonies with the workers who travel to and from over well-defined trails. Generally there is a single queen in the colony but often supplementary queens as well. Colonies typically are around 15,000 workers when mature, but potentially could be over 100,000 workers. Foods are both carbohydrates
- Latin Name: Pogonomyrmex badius
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Florida Harvester Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Native to the eastern United States, and found along the Gulf States from Louisiana to Florida and north to North Carolina.
Biology:
Harvester ants gather seeds and vegetation for their food, and are very unlikely to enter structures. However, they may be common in urban areas, and with their ability to sting and their large size they may become a problem. In addition, their activities can have a serious effect on agricultural crops or ornamental plantings. Nest openings are identified by the large, circular, flat area around them, created by the workers as they clear debris and soil from the underground chambers. This area averages 12 feet in diameter, and distinct paths lead from it to over 200 feet away for
- Latin Name: Tapinoma melanocephalum
- Latin Family Name: Formicidae
- Common Name: Ghost Ant
- Other Names: N/A
Origin:
Tropical in origin, as it is found in Hawaii and Florida, as well as on occasion in greenhouses in other states.
Biology:
This tiny ant derives its name from the difficulty in seeing it, due to its small size and light color. When found it will be in a warm, humid habitat, and its presence outside of Florida or Hawaii is likely due to infested soils in plants that are shipped. It is primarily an outdoor species, nesting in virtually any crack or small void it can find, including under bark or in hollow trees, under logs and other debris on the soil, or within structures in any suitable void. Colonies may contain several thousand workers and numerous queens, and new colonies are probably begun by budding from a parent