Types Of Ants

What are ants?

Ants are social creatures and are rarely ever seen traveling alone. They are small in size and common invaders in homes and other structures.

Ants are insects, and all adults have six legs, three body regions, and antennae. Ants also have chewing mouthparts, and only the reproductive members of an ant colony have wings.

Winged ants are typically only seen in the spring when the weather warms, and they emerge from their colony to find a mate and create a new colony of their own.

A single ant colony may have thousands of workers and multiple nesting locations, making eliminating and controlling these pests tough. Described below are some of Roanoke’s most common household invading ants.

Argentine Ants
Shiny dark brown to black color, these ants move in large, wide trails and live together in massive colonies with multiple nesting sites.

Crazy Ants
Unlike other types of ants, crazy ants do not travel in a straight line. They move in an erratic, frenzied pattern that gives them the look of being “crazy” and not knowing where they are going. They are dark brown to black, and some have a gray sheen.

 Odorous House Ants
As their name describes, the odorous house ant emits a foul, rotten coconut-like odor when crushed. They are small in size and are brown to black.

 Pavement Ants
Dark brown to black, pavement ants are another small species of ant. These ants have a varied diet and eat almost anything. Their name comes from their favorite nesting locations—in the cracks of pavement and sidewalks.

Are ants dangerous?

While there are some species of dangerous ants living in the United States, most household invading ants are nuisance pests. The ants most common in our area don’t cause any real harm to people or damage the structure of buildings.

However, just because ants aren’t dangerous, doesn’t mean you want them living in or around your home. Ants, no matter the species, invade in large numbers, contaminate food, and spread bacteria to the surfaces of a home.

Why do I have an ant problem?

The most likely reason that ants  have found their way onto your property is that they have discovered food.

Ants live together in large colonies, and feeding all of its members is a big job. Worker ants are always searching for new sources of food. Something as simple as a trashcan with the lid askew can attract ants and allow them to forage for food inside.

Once they find a source of food, the workers will leave a pheromone trail so that other members of the colony can find their way to the new food source.

Different things, including compost piles, pet food, and gardens, attract ants. They find their way into gardens to feed on fallen fruits or vegetables or to feed on the honeydew that small garden pests and other insects produce.

Where will I find ants?

Ants usually nest outside but sometimes make nests inside, after finding their way in while foraging for food, or in order to escape harsh weather.

When nesting outside, ants  build their nests in damp soil under woodpiles, mulch, landscaping ties, tree stumps, along fence lines, in the cracks of sidewalks or pavements, or next to foundations.

Their favorite nesting locations happen to be near homes and other buildings. This location allows ants to easily find their way indoors, usually through cracks in the foundation, under doors, through spaces around windows, and gaps in exterior walls.

Once inside, they nest in out-of-the-way locations like under floors, behind walls, inside insulation, in crawl spaces, and near heating systems.