The 6 Most Common Types of Ants in Texas
Houston's warm climate and diverse environment make it a haven for various ant species. Whether you’ve noticed tiny pests invading your kitchen or trails of ants marching across your yard, knowing which type of ant you're dealing with is crucial for managing the infestation. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the most common ants in Houston, how to spot each one, and the best ways to handle them.
The six most common types of ants in Texas are:
1. Fire Ants
Fire ants are notorious for their painful stings and aggressive behavior. These reddish-brown ants have a dark abdomen, and they typically form large mounds in the ground. Their nests are often found in yards, gardens, or even around buildings. You’ll know you’ve encountered fire ants if you disturb their mound and they swarm aggressively.
How to Identify Fire Ants
- Size: Small to medium-sized, typically 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
- Color: Reddish-brown with a darker abdomen.
- Body Shape: Fire ants have a distinct segmented body with a thin waist. The workers are uniform in size, while the queen is larger.
- Behavior: These ants are known for their aggressive behavior and painful stings. If you disturb their mound, they swarm quickly to defend their nest.
- Nesting: They build large, dome-shaped mounds in the ground. These mounds are often found in yards, gardens, or along sidewalks.
Learn more about identifying fire ants in Texas.
How to Spot Them
- Look for large, dome-shaped mounds with no visible entrance (the entrance is underground).
- Fire ants can be seen quickly swarming around their nest. If disturbed, they’ll bite and sting aggressively.
- These ants often forage in long, noticeable trails that lead to food sources.
How to Handle Them
Fire ants can be dangerous, especially if you have allergic reactions to their stings. If you notice a mound, be cautious around it. Treatment often requires baiting and mound treatment to fully eradicate the colony.
2. Argentine Ants
Argentine ants are light to dark brown and smaller in size, typically around 1/8 inch long. Unlike other ants, Argentine ants form large, continuous colonies, making them a major nuisance in urban areas. They prefer sweet foods and can often be found indoors, particularly in kitchens and bathrooms.
How to Identify Argentine Ants
- Size: Small, about 1/8 inch long.
- Color: Light to dark brown, often appearing uniform in color.
- Body Shape: Slim with a smooth, shiny appearance.
- Behavior: Argentine ants form large colonies with multiple queens, making them extremely difficult to control. They’re especially attracted to sugary foods and are often found indoors.
How to Spot Them
- Look for long trails of ants, especially indoors, around food sources, or along edges of walls.
- These ants are tiny but travel in large numbers and often invade kitchens or bathrooms.
How to Handle Them
Argentine ants are difficult to control due to their expansive colonies. It's essential to eliminate food sources, seal cracks and crevices, and use bait to attract and poison the ants. Professional pest control may be necessary for large infestations.
3. Carpenter Ants
Carpenter ants are one of the largest ant species, typically black or reddish-black in color, with workers ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long. They don't eat wood, but they tunnel through it to create nests, which can damage wooden structures. Carpenter ants often leave sawdust-like debris near their nests.
How to Identify Carpenter Ants
- Size: Large, ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch long.
- Color: Black, reddish-black, or a mix of both.
- Body Shape: Carpenter ants are larger than most other ants and have a smooth, rounded thorax (the middle part of their body).
- Behavior: Carpenter ants don't eat wood but excavate it to create their nests, often damaging wooden structures over time. Unlike termites, they don’t eat the wood but tunnel through it, leaving fine sawdust behind.
How to Spot Them
- Look for piles of sawdust-like debris near wood or wooden structures.
- Carpenter ants may be seen crawling along walls, beams, or trim, often in dark or hidden areas.
- They are nocturnal, so they’re most active at night.
How to Handle Them
To eliminate carpenter ants, you'll need to find and destroy the nest, which is often hidden inside wood. Sealing entry points, removing rotting wood, and using insecticide around potential nesting areas will help. In severe cases, it’s best to call a professional to ensure the infestation is completely eradicated.
4. Pharaoh Ants
Pharaoh ants are tiny, about 1/16 inch long, and typically yellow or light brown with a darker abdomen. These ants can be difficult to spot due to their size and ability to hide in small crevices, but they often infest areas with a lot of moisture, like bathrooms or kitchens.
How to Identify Pharaoh Ants
- Size: Tiny, around 1/16 inch.
- Color: Yellow to light brown with a darker abdomen.
- Body Shape: Pharaoh ants have a distinct, slender appearance, with a petiole (a small segment between the thorax and abdomen) that has two nodes.
- Behavior: Pharaoh ants are persistent and highly invasive. They can quickly form multiple colonies and are notorious for infesting homes.
How to Spot Them
- Pharaoh ants are usually found indoors, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
- They are attracted to sweet and greasy foods, often trailing toward food sources.
How to Handle Them
Pharaoh ants are notoriously hard to control because they can quickly split into multiple colonies. Baiting is the most effective method, as it targets the queen and workers. Consistent, targeted treatment is key to managing this species.
5. Pavement Ants
Pavement ants are small (about 1/8 inch) and black or dark brown in color. They often nest in cracks in the pavement or under rocks, and they are frequently seen foraging around food sources like sugary items and meats.
How to Identify Pavement Ants
- Size: Small, about 1/8 inch long.
- Color: Dark brown or black.
- Body Shape: Pavement ants have a segmented body with a distinct thorax that is uneven when viewed from the side. They have small spines on the thorax.
- Behavior: Pavement ants are often found nesting in cracks in the pavement, sidewalks, and under stones. They forage for food in long trails.
How to Spot Them
- Look for small, dark ants crawling along the edges of sidewalks, driveways, or patio areas.
- They may also form nests in cracks in the pavement, which you can spot by the disturbed soil or debris around them.
How to Handle Them
Pavement ants can be controlled by sealing cracks and applying ant baits. They are not typically aggressive and are easy to manage with the right baiting strategy.
6. Odorous House Ants
Odorous house ants are small, dark brown to black ants, measuring about 1/8 inch long. They get their name from the strong, unpleasant odor they emit when crushed, which is often described as a rotten coconut smell. These ants are commonly found in homes, particularly in kitchens.
How to Identify Odorous House Ants
- Size: Small, around 1/8 inch.
- Color: Dark brown or black.
- Body Shape: These ants have a smooth, shiny appearance, with a rounded thorax that is evenly shaped when viewed from the side.
- Behavior: As their name suggests, odorous house ants emit a strong, unpleasant odor when crushed, often described as a coconut-like smell. They are very common in homes, especially around food.
How to Spot Them
- Odorous house ants can be found trailing around food sources like sugar, bread, or fruit.
- If you crush one, you’ll smell the distinctive odor.
- These ants are often found in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas with moisture.
How to Handle Them
Controlling odorous house ants involves locating the nest and using bait or insecticide. Clean up food spills promptly and seal entry points to prevent further infestations.
Why Ant Control Matters in Houston
Ants can be more than just a nuisance—they can cause structural damage, contaminate food, and even bring pests like termites and fleas into your home. Identifying the species is the first step in taking control of an ant problem, and knowing how to manage them will ensure a pest-free home.
If you’re dealing with an ant infestation in Houston, don’t hesitate to reach out to your local ant control experts at Anytime Pest Elimination. The right treatment plan can help you enjoy a safe and comfortable home, free from these pesky invaders.