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Ants
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 Carpenter Ant
This is among the largest of the ant family, measuring 1/4" to 1/2". Its color is usually dark black. It has a large head with strong mandibles (jaws) used for chewing. Carpenter ants may be seen infesting homes or buildings at any time of the year searching for food. Although they chew their way through wood they do not eat wood. Instead, they feed on a wide range of insects, plant materials and, occasionally, on household foodstuffs. They are of great concern to homeowners because of their ability to tunnel into wood to build their colonies. An infestation can cause serious structural damage if left unchecked.
 Odorous House AntThe odorous house ant is about 1/8" and dark brown in color. This ant is so named because when crushed, the workers give off a rotten coconut odor. These ants normally nest outdoors under items on the ground, within landscape mulch, beneath loose bark on trees, under ground cover, in potted plants and other suitable voids. They are often found invading and nesting in homes. Odorous house ants may develop huge colonies containing thousands of workers and numerous queens making this species very difficult to control.  Argentine AntThe argentine ant is light to dark brown measuring 1/10". This ant is readily adaptable and can nest in a great variety of situations. Colonies are massive, and may contain hundreds of queens. Their nests are usually located in moist soil, along sidewalks, or beneath boards. They often invade residential and commercial buildings in search of food and/or shelter. They travel in trails and forage day and night. The argentine ant can eat almost anything but prefers sweets. |
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