Ant Identification Guide
Learn How To Identify Ants
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Ants:
- Ants have noticeable waists
- Ants have clubbed or bent antennae
- Ants have longer legs
- When wings are present, the front wings will be longer than the back wings on ants
vs
Termites:- Termites have a thick waist
- Termites have straight antennae
- Termites have shorter legs
- When wings are present, both pairs of wings will be the same length on a termite
Once you have determined you are indeed dealing with ants you should know that there a few species of ants that must be treated differently than getting rid of general ant species.
- Carpenter ants are 1/4" - 1/2" long
- Carpenter ants vary in color from black to dark red
- Carpenter ants can bite but they cannot sting
- Carpenter ants can be found in dead or damaged trees, stumps and wood piles outside. Inside, carpenter ants are usually found where wood has retained excess moisture from a leaky pipe or other leak in a void.
- Carpenter ants leave behind debris that will include coarse sawdust and insect body parts.
- Fire ants are 1/16" - 1/4" long
- Fire ants are reddish brown with a darker back end or abdomen
- Fire ants can bite and they also have a very painful sting
- Fire ants make dirt mounds, usually in sunny areas in open soil or grass
- Fire ants are usually found in the southeast states
- Crazy ants are 1/16" - 1/8" long
- Crazy ants have slender dark brown - black body
- Crazy ants have very long legs
- Crazy ants can bite but they cannot sting
- Crazy ants tend to wander in an erratic fashion which makes them appear to be lost
- Crazy ants are usually limited to coastal southern states
Texas Leaf Cutter Ants:
- Leaf cutter ants are 1/16" - 1/2" long
- Leaf cutter ants are reddish brown to dark brown
- Leaf cutter ants build numerous crater like mounds in each nesting area
- Leaf cutter ants strip the foliage off of plants
- Leaf cutter ants are mostly contained to Texas
If you find you have one of these species of ants please follow the specialized treatment guides for them:
- Ants have noticeable waists
- Ants have clubbed or bent antennae
- Ants have 6 legs
- When wings are present, the front wings will be longer than the back wings on ants
- Some ant species will have a stinger present
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