Acrobat ants

Acrobat ants are acknowledged for raising their abdomen above their head when disturbed. These ant species are less than 5.4 mm in length and even exhibit an unpleasant smell when disturbed. Like most ants, acrobat ants are black and are found near moisture such as under stones, stumps, and woodpiles.

Signs of Infestation: A visible sign of acrobat ants are the trails of ants that scavenge for resources. Additionally, they deposit debris in their nests consisting of foam and dead ants near nesting grounds.

Allegheny Mound Ants

Allegheny mound ants vary in size ranging from 3.2 to 6.3 mm and are usually reddish-brown in color. They typically have a reddish head, thorax, and legs that are dark brown or black. Preferring wooded areas, these pests nest in fields, pastures, and similar areas including residential lawns. They do not usually enter homes but are often found on patios.

Signs of Infestation: An Allegheny colony builds mounds, which provides prominent signs of infestation by these ants. Among other signs, visibly witnessing workers foraging for food is also the case.

Argentine Ant

Argentine ants are usually a brown hue and measure about 2.2 to 2.8 mm long. Their antennae have 12 segments that allow them to adapt rapidly to a variety of nesting grounds.

Signs of Infestations: Similarly to most ant species, the visible sign of infestation is the trails observed on trees into homes.

Big headed Ants

Big headed Ants range in different colors, typically yellow and dark reddish-brown. They nest in grounds under rocks or logs, usually making mounds around nest openings. It is common for these ants to nest beside the foundation of a home. It is best advised to maintain a gap between the building and any vegetation, which will help discourage these ants from invading the home.

Signs of Infestation: Big headed ants are observed for foraging food to bring them indoors into areas such as kitchens or even bathrooms.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are the largest ant species in the U.S. They can measure up to 3.4 - 13mm in length and are typically black, red, or yellow hues. Carpenter ants are distinguished by their large mandibles.

Signs of Infestation: These winged critters indicate their well-established colonies by the debris they produce from tunneling in the wood. Rough wood shavings mixed with parts of dead ants from the colony indicate carpenter ant nesting activity.

Citronella Ant

Citronella Ants are yellow, measuring up to 4 mm in length, but the queens can measure up to 8mm in length. These critters have a strong lemon smell when crushed, earning their name as Citronella Ants. Their preference is the outdoors and can be found under logs, rocks, and soil.

Signs of Citronella Ant: Citronella ants construct mounds near their nesting areas in the soil, providing a sign of infestation.

Field Ant

Field Ants are often confused for Carpenter Ants. They are typically a combination of either black, brown, or red. In length, these ants range from about 1/8th to ¼ of an inch in length. Field Ants nest under timbers, logs, and stones and do not establish mounds indoors but do target indoors for food supply.

Signs of infestation: Field Ants produce distinct mounds often made out of grass and other like plant materials.

Fire Ants

Fire Ants range in color from red to brown hues or a combination. They are very active and can be aggressive, have stingers, and will use them for any intruding animal. They do favor warm weather and high temperatures.

Signs of infestation: Fire Ants are distinctively recognized for their sandy earthen mounds that are typically recent after rainfall.

Pavement Ants

Pavement Ants are light brown to black and are lighter on the bottom of the body. They are usually 2.5 to 3mm in length and have 12 segmented antennae with three segments. These ants are pretty popular in large city hubs and are found foraging for food. They nest outdoors along cracks of pavement and rarely nest indoors.

Signs of Infestation: A common indicator of Pavement Ant infestation are the small piles of excavated materials or even the swarmers.

Thief Ants

Thief Ants are particularly smaller than most ants, ranging in size from 1.5-2.2 mm in length. Their antennae have 10 segments with a two-segmented club. Typically, they are a brown or yellow coloring. Thief ant nesting occurs outside, especially under rocks.

Signs of infestation: Thief ant workers are the prominent indicators of an infestation.