CEDAR TREE / PESTS
ALL ABOUT ANT TYPES
Some common ants you may see in your home, and some information to help you identify them.
Carpenter Ants
(Camponotus)
Commonly found in forested areas around the world, Carpenter Ants make nests inside wood by using their jaws (mandibles) to chew out cavernous areas. Preferably in dead or damp wood.
Appearance
They have a waist with one node and a thorax that is rounded evenly from a side profile. The worker ants are usually black and red in color. Queens are larger and have wings (which are lost once they start a new nest).
Signs Of Activity
Like the Carpenter Bee, these Ants use the same methods of wood carving. Keep an eye out for wood shavings near any possible entryways and a series of small holes near any wood damage. You may even hear small noises depending on activity.
ANT ANALYSIS
ANTS HEAR WITH THEIR FEET, USING SENSORS TO DETECT MOVEMENT.
Odorous Ants
(Tapinoma sessile)
The Odorous (House) ant gets its name from the odor they emit when they're crushed, which has been described as a rotten coconut scent. They forage for food night and day, moving inside during the cooler months.
Appearance
Their bodies are a uniform color (brown or black) with an uneven thorax and one hidden node on the pedicel. They'll often travel in trails when looking for food, so keep an eye out for multiple in the same area.
Signs Of Activity
You will most likely be able to tell once they are killed due to the odor. Groups will often look for sugary foods that are easily accessible. They'll make their way into tight spaces like baseboards, corners of countertops, along pipes, and even small cracks in tiling.
ANT ANALYSIS
For every PERSON ON EARTH, THERE ARE 2.5 MILLION ANTS.
Citronella Ants
(Acanthomyops)
Commonly found in the Eastern United States, this species gets their name from the lemon/citrus scent that's released when threatened, most noticeable when they're crushed. Untrained eyes may mistake these ants for termites due to their coloring.
Appearance
Their size ranges between 3-4mm in length with a uniform yellow body. They have one node on the pedicel, connected the abdomen and thorax. The swarmers are around 2x the size with dark smoke-colored wings.
Signs Of Activity
Swarmers: Mature, winged ants of this species who leave their colonies to begin another. Keep an eye out for swarms near light sources. Otherwise, you may see mounds of soil which is a sign of nesting, as well as tiny yellow ants in the surrounding areas.
