Carpenter Ants, Camponotus sp. (Mayr)

Often a common sight around Texas homes throughout the year. There are 25 species of Camponotus in the United States and most are native species. Although their natural nesting sites are in trees, Carpenter Ants can also invade and live indoors.

Description and Habits:

• Adults vary in length (polymorphic): Minor worker: 1/4 inch; Major worker: 1/2 inch; Winged Reproductives: up to 7/16 inch; Functional wingless queen: 9/16 inch
• Coloration varies from solid dull black or yellowish-red to a combination of black and dull red or reddish-orange
• Have only one segment or node between their thorax and abdomen
• Have a circle of hairs at the tip of their abdomen
• Have evenly rounded thorax when viewed from the side
• Generally nest outdoors- indoor nests my be satellite colonies

Carpenter Ants are highly adaptable and capable of establishing nests in diverse environments. They most commonly occur in wooded areas preferring to nest in a moist, humid environment. They nest in live or dead trees and stumps, dead tree limbs, buried wood, in firewood, fence posts, landscape timbers, tree holes, hollow wooden doors, ceiling beams, under roofing boards and attic insulation, voids above windows and porches, under rocks, logs and other objects on the ground.

In structures, timbers damaged by water leaks attract these ants, and they select damp, soft, decaying areas for nesting sites. These ants prefer to nest in wood, but are capable of nesting in preformed cavities, or natural cavities, termite galleries, or even in exposed sites in boxes, cabinets or attics. Carpenter Ants do not eat wood, but remove quantities of it to enlarge the nest for a growing colony. This activity may cause structural damage. When searching for food, Carpenter Ants feed mainly on honeydew produced by homopterous insects (aphids, mealy bugs, and scales) that feed on sap from plant tissues.

Little Black Ants, Monomorium minimum (Buckley)

Little is known of the life history of this ant.

Description and Habits:

• Body 1/16 inch in length (monomorphic)
• Antennae have 12 segments with a 3-segmented club
• Shiny black
• Workers prey on insects and feed on honeydew produced by plant sucking insects such as aphids

Little Black Ant colonies are moderately sized to large, containing up to 2,000 workers and many queens. Colonies consist almost exclusively of workers and brood (eggs, larvae, and pupae) during most of the year, but winged males and females are produced during the summer. Nuptial flights have not been observed but probably occur. It is presumed that most nests are established by one or two queens. In the laboratory, queens may live approximately one year; workers may live about four months.

Red Imported Fire Ants, Solenopsis geminata

Fire Ants build mounds of soft soil. When disturbed, they emerge aggressively and sting. The sting usually leaves a white pustule on the skin.

Description and Habits:

• Vary in size (1/16 to almost 1/4 inch long), with the largest workers 2 or 3 times larger than the smallest
• Single queen (monogyne form): only one queen per colony or mound; slightly larger workers; members of colonies are territorial; mound densities usually 2,080 mounds per acre; fewer ants per acre
• Multiple queen (polygyne form): dozens of queens per colony; smaller average worker ants; colonies are interconnected; mound densities 100 to 1,000+ per acre; more ants per acre

Solenopsis geminata is the most common native Fire Ant species encountered. To the unaided eye, they are almost identical to Red Imported Fire ants. However, S. geminata will have a few larger workers with large, square-shaped heads. These ants specialize in collecting and milling seeds.

Pharaoh Ants, Monomorium pharaonis (Linnaeus)

Pharaoh Ants have a stinger, but it is not always visible. They do not sting humans.

Description and Habits:

• More commonly know as the "Sugar Ant"
• Body length 1/12 to 1/16 inch long (monomorphic)
• Body coloration varies from golden yellow to reddish-brown
• Have 12-segmented antennae that ends with a 3-segmented club
• Feeds on sweets (jelly, sugar, honey, etc.), cakes and breads, and greasy or fatty foods

Pharaoh ants form large colonies consisting of many nests, which colony members move freely between, without any antagonism. Colonies vary greatly in size. Some colonies may have only a single queen with a few hundred workers, whereas other colonies may have hundreds of queens with several thousand workers. Queens may live for a year and lay up to 35 eggs per day. Workers develop from egg to adult in 36 days. Winged males and females require about 44 days to develop. The life span of workers is about 70 days.

-Information provided by http://urbanentomology.tamu.edu/urban_pests/index.cfm-