The males are completely black. Any idea what kind of ants these may be? Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, All Rights Reserved. What kind are they? There are several different methods of treating for ants and various products available to get rid of ants and prevent them from returning to your property. Probably the most interesting, and most dramatic, thing about these ants is their warlike nature: "During the late spring and early summer, colonies attempt to conquer new areas and often attack nearby enemy colonies. However, when it comes to identifying specific types of ants, the undertaking is more complex.When it comes to identifying types of ants, observe their bodies carefully, looking for color, size, number of pedicels and any notable projections on the thorax.One of the most important things to examine when identifying types of ants is body shape. The most common indoor species is 1/4-3/8 inch-long with a black tail (abdomen) and reddish-brown head and thorax. While it is certainly easy to determine that a 1-inch black ant is a carpenter ant; it is a little more difficult when the workers are a mere ¼ of an inch long. A few fire ant nests in your yard can hurt your property value and hamper your enjoyment of your house and home. They are an introduced species -- some say a pest, although in my experience at least they really don't do much damage -- and live in nests under sidewalks throughout North America. Their unusual name comes from its original habitat in Egypt. Entomologists call the constriction between the ant’s thorax and abdomen – its “pinched waist” – a pedicel. They routinely invade houses searching for food during the winter, when their usual honeydew food outside is gone. Should I be worried? However, they’ve been introduced to North America and love visiting homes throughout the United States. These ants have been able to kill small pigs by their sudden and vicious attacks. The harvester ant is known for its ability to sting. Their nests are sensitive to vibrations so if a footstep is detected close by, the ants will swarm out to attack. The Southern fire ant is generally a little smaller than the red imported fire ant, but can also cause significant damage and inflict a painful sting. We have large red ants that have a black "node" as its rear section. The mound is usually about a foot high, but some have been reported which have reached eight feet in height. For example, the soldiers who guard the column of leaf-carrying workers have huge heads and biting mouthparts, and can sting ferociously (see the above video).Inside the nest, the ants pack the leaf fragments into a fungus-growing culture -- the ants feed on this fungus, not on the leaf particles themselves.

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\n<\/p><\/div>"}University of California Integrated Pest Management ProgramResearch-based pest management program run by the University of California's Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of California Integrated Pest Management ProgramResearch-based pest management program run by the University of California's Cooperative ExtensionUniversity of California Integrated Pest Management ProgramResearch-based pest management program run by the University of California's Cooperative ExtensionTo learn how to collect ants for identification, keep reading!