What Are Ants?

Ants are an extremely common social insect that work in a colony to support their ant queen. They are part of the family Formicidae and there are thousands of different species of ants across the world. They are so pervasive that they can be found on every continent except for Antarctica. They are most prevalent in tropical climates with recent discoveries of super colonies that span across thousands of square miles. These colonies are capable of having multiple queens and are capable of intermixing and cooperating without conflict. Some super colonies have even been connected to form a global mega colony that is rivaled only by human society as the most populous animal society to ever be recognized and recorded. 

Ant Appearance 

Ants are a familiar pest and while the differences between the thousands of species are subtle, they mostly look the same. Ants are easily identified by their hard exoskeleton that is constricted between the upper abdominal section and the lower thorax. The color of ants can range from red, brown, black, and yellow and are usually between 1/20 inch to 1/2 inch long. Ants have 6 legs that have 3 joints and 2 elbowed antennae which are used to help navigate and sense food and pheromones. Their heads have large compound eyes and two sets of powerful mandibles. One set is used to collect food, carry large objects, dig, or fight off threats to the colony and the other is used to chew their food. Depending on the caste, some ants even have wings which help them fly off in search of a new space to expand the colony. Knowing what to look for will help identify what species of ants you are dealing with which helps determine other details like where they are most likely to nest and how much of a threat they pose. 

Ants vs Termites

Ants and termites are commonly mistaken for each other by homeowners since they have many similarities. Knowing the primary differences will help ensure that you know which pest may be invading your home so an individual can take the necessary precautions to prevent further ant or termite activity. Ants typically have a pinched section between their abdomen and thorax which is a key feature that termites do not have. Ants also have jointed antennae, are darker, and are typically visible out in the open. Conversely, termites have straight antennae and are an off-white color because they stay inside their colony and are not exposed to the sun. Both ants and termites can develop wings when it is time for their colony to expand and they will lose their wings once they identify a new space to colonize. 

Ant Colony Hierarchy 

Ant colonies are structured into 4-5 different castes which all have very specific roles that help support overall colony health. The primary castes are queen ants, males, workers, soldiers, and alates. The ant colony is led by their ant queen whose primary responsibilities include laying all of the eggs required for the ant colony to grow and sending the right chemical pheromones that determine the caste outcome of the ant pupae. Male ants, or drones, serve a singular function and that is to mate with the queen to fertilize her eggs and then die. Some species of ants include soldier ants which are designed to protect the colony against predators and other invading ants. They are often slightly bigger with defenses like larger mandibles or stingers to help them ward of threats. This caste typically makes up a very small percentage of the overall colony. Worker ants make up most of a colony and are generally the ants that most people see. These ants are all sterile females that are responsible for most of the duties within a colony including digging, collecting food, caring for the young, and feeding the colony. Workers must feed the queen since she cannot move, the soldiers because their jaws are so big they can only be used for protection and not food collection, and the larvae which cannot feed themselves. Alates, or reproductives, typically develop once a colony has grown to the point where it needs new resources. This usually occurs when a queen gives the chemical signals for another young queen to emerge. This causes a new fertile female and a swarm of males to develop wings so they can take their nuptial flight and go find a new space to colonize. 

Where are Ants Found?

Ants can be found just about anywhere. They are extremely adaptable and different species around the world have developed to survive in their respective environments. Most ants spend their lives living in colonies which create a stable nest somewhere it is likely to be protected against predators, the elements, and other ant species. These nests can be just about anywhere with most nests being underground. Some species prefer special accommodations like carpenter ants who burrow into wooden structures. Other ant species will create nests in the cavities of trees or dead logs which is why there is sometimes confusion between ants and termites. Several species of ants prefer to build nests indoors where the climate is comfortable and protected from the elements and some species prefer to stay nomadic and on the move. 

Ant Life Cycle

The ant life cycle has four primary stages that include the egg, larvae, pupae, and mature adults. Depending on the species, the process in which an ant matures through these stages can take several months to several years. The process starts when a queen lays eggs. These eggs typically have a period of 1-2 weeks of being cared for before hatching into larvae. The larvae are still unable to care for themselves due to being immobile and blind which requires the help of adult worker ants. After another 2 weeks, the ant larvae will the molt into pupae. The pupae start to look like mature ants but are still in the final phase of development before they become mobile. This stage lasts for about 4 weeks before the ants become mature workers. Worker ants will be fully developed and will be ready to take on the role the colony needs to thrive. Workers live a shorter life when compared against ant queens, with most worker ants living between a few months to a few years. Ant queens, on the other hand, survive much longer with some species of ant queens living for up to 30 years.

What Do Ants Eat? 

Ants are omnivorous scavengers, hunters, and farmers that feed on just about anything edible in their path. Depending on the species, ants’ preferred foods include proteins, other bugs and animals, sweets, grains, seeds, and even fungus. Most species have similar diets that require the consumption of a broad diet of different foods. Generally, it is safe to assume that ants will consume just about any food edible to humans, but they prefer foods rich in carbohydrates, sugars, and proteins. That being said, there are several species that have a very particular diet. Some ants have developed the ability to farm aphids for their sweet honeydew and others cultivate fungus to feed their colony using plant matter they collect.

Ant Defenses

Ant colonies must always be prepared to take on the threat of a predator or an invading ant colony. The way most ant species defend themselves is by using their mandibles to attack and bite any perceived threat. However, some species of ants have developed unique defense mechanisms that allow them to sting or spray their targets. Fire ants can spray an acid-based solution out of their thorax that causes severe burns and is painful even to humans. Other ants use a stinger to defend themselves. Bullet ants are known to have the most painful sting of any ant species while the sting of jack jumper ants can prove to be fatal. No matter how an ant species protects itself, the most important defense is teamwork. Ant species generally fight together and will send out pheromones that indicate to other ants in their colony to swarm an area to protect the queen and her eggs. 

Ant Damages

The damages caused by ants can vary depending on the species. Most ant species are simply a nuisance and might only cause food contamination while some ant species can cause catastrophic levels of damage. Ants like carpenter ants burrow deep into wooden structures causing damages similar to termites. While carpenter ants don’t actually eat the wood, they use their oversized mandibles to shred the wood to create cavities for the colony to live. Other ants can cause damages to vegetation by farming aphids for honeydew which can introduce mold and mildew onto vegetation and crops. 

How to Get Rid of Ants

Getting rid of ants can require some effort if an infestation has gotten out of hand. An important first step is to identify the species so you can determine where they are nesting and how to prepare an effective treatment strategy. Effective ant treatment requires total colony collapse which means that the ant queen must be killed to stop the production of eggs. This can be done in several ways using different insecticides designed to target ants. The best way is to use ant baits which contain pesticides that worker ants carry back to the colony to feed to the ant queen and larvae. This will infect the ant queen causing her to die. Other pesticides can be applied as a local spot treatment which are designed to kill ants on contact or as a residual exterior spray which acts as a barrier around a property that infects ants and kills them after they come in contact with the pesticide application. Exterior ant colonies can be drowned using hot water with an insecticidal soap to fill the colony. The combination of suffocation and extreme temperature will be enough to ensure that the colony is terminated. In addition to treatment, it is absolutely critical to prevent ants from moving back in so exclusion and sanitation will play a large role moving forward once an infestation is treated.

Ant Facts & Information

• Ants communicate using pheromone trails to help other workers find food.
• There are over 12,000 species of ants across 6 different continents
• An ant can carry over 20 times its weight
• An average ant queen produces several millions of eggs over her lifetime
• Ants respirate through their exoskeleton and do not have lungs
• Ants are one of the most successful species in the world next to humans
• An ant super colony was discovered that was over 3,700 miles wide.
• Ants are extremely territorial and will often go to war with another colony
• Ants are on a very short list of animals that are capable of farming
• Ants take slaves from colonies they have conquered

Common Types of Ants

With over 12,000 species of ants globally, it can be difficult to identify the species. That being said the most common and well-known ant species are:

• Argentine ants: Introduced into the US in the late 1800’s, these ants have become an invasive species that is found all over the southern states.
• Carpenter ants: These ants burrow into wood to create nesting chambers for the queen and her young and cavities and pathways for the rest of the colony.
• Odorous house ants: This is a common household ant species that give off a strong, unpleasant odor when crushed.
• Red imported fire ants: These are another invasive species of ants that cause significant damages as they are nomadic and rarely stay in one place.
• Leafcutter ants: These ants cut apart leaves which they use to farm fungus for their colony.
• Army ants: These ants are aggressive predatory ants that will forage for food over large areas and will stay on the move like fire ants.

There are several other species of common household ants that are problematic but with over 12,000 species, listing each would be an extensive list of ant species.

Signs of Ants 

The most common signs of most ant species are seeing the ants themselves as they forage for food, water, or shelter. When ants find food sources, they will leave a pheromone trail that is used to guide other ants to their colony’s next meal. This is why you will often see ants following each other on a thin path. Other signs of ants include dirt mounts which highlight access points ants use to enter their underground nests. There are other indicators that are less common like discarded wings which indicates the presence of an ant swarm that has found a new home. Other indicators are specific to certain species of ants, like carpenter ants who cause wood damage. 

Contact EcoGuard If You Have Seen Signs of an Ant Infestation

If you have seen ants on or around your property, it may be time to call in professional help. The licensed and experience ant control experts at EcoGuard Pest Management can provide effective ant treatment services to ensure that your ant problem is completely eradicated. We utilize an integrated pest management approach that applies different treatment strategies to effectively terminate the ant queen and the entire colony. Call today to schedule an inspection!

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