Pavement Ants

Pavement ants nest outdoors under stones, along curbs or in cracks of pavement. They also nest indoors in walls and under floors. Pavement ants are a familiar sight during the summer months. They can be seen trailing along sidewalks, driveways, patios and cracks in foundation walls. Sometimes they can be seen carrying soil or excavated debris, food or eggs from one colony to another.

A colony of pavement ants will have multiple queens and numerous workers. A new colony is established when a queen lays eggs. As these eggs develop, worker ants will transfer the eggs and young from one colony to the next to avoid moisture and temperature changes.

The pavement ant is about 1/8–1/16-inch long. They range in color from brown to black with paler legs and antennae. Despite their differences, however, these are the distinguishing characteristics of the pavement ant: A pair of spines on the back, Two nodes on the petiole, Grooves on the head and thorax, 12-segmented antennae with a three-segmented club, Stinger in the last abdominal segment, Queens and swarmers (reproductive ants) have wings and are twice as large as the workers

Carpenter ants can be rather ominous looking due to their size. Among the largest ants in the United States, winged queens can be a frightening one inch long. Fortunately, the black, wingless worker ants are smaller, varying in length from 3/8 to 1/2-inch. Carpenter ants also vary in color from species to species. The more common black carpenter ant is dark in color; other types of carpenter ants range from yellow to red.

Since size and color can differ, and because they are often confused with termites, the best way to identify carpenter ants is to look for these characteristics:  Single node between thorax and abdomen, Thorax with an evenly rounded upper surface that appears arched when viewed from the side, A ring of hairs around the tip of the abdomen, Workers have large mandibles, Carpenter ants differ from termites in that they have dark-colored bodies, narrow waists and elbowed antennae. If wings are present, the hind wings are shorter than the front wings. Also, carpenter ants are more common and seen in the open.

Carpenter ants build their homes in damp, decayed wood both inside and outside. Contrary to popular belief, they don’t feed on the wood; they merely hollow it out to build their nests. This hardworking species of ants cut destructive paths through the wood grain, removing wood shavings to outside of their nests in small piles known as frass. Spotting a pile of shaving is a clue to their presence. If treated early, carpenter ants are seldom responsible for serious structural damage to houses and buildings. However, these ants can cause extensive damage if they continue to excavate undiscovered for an extended period of time.

While many people think carpenter ants eat wood, they do not. Carpenter ants will feed on a variety of food that people eat—particularly sweets and meats. Outside, carpenter ants will forage for honeydew — the sweet, sticky excrement left behind by aphids, as well as fruits, plant juices and protein sources such as living or dead insects, and pet food.

Carpenter ants forage for food at night, starting around sunset. Workers will travel as far as 100 yards away from the nest in search of food. As they move back and forth from the nest, they leave behind pheromone (scent) trails and tactile (touch) trails. The ants use these trails to guide the way between their home and the food source.

Carpenter Ants