How to Identify & Control Different Types of Ants

When it comes to irritating insect pests, ants rank near the top of the list. With close to 1,000 species of ants in the U.S., at some point, most people will have to deal with ants in their home or yard (or both), and figuring out what kind of ant problem you have can be challenging. Different types of ants require different approaches to control, so we've got a list of some of the most common ants—carpenter ants, odorous house ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, and fire ants—to help you figure out who you're dealing with.

The first step is to confirm that the insects that have invaded are indeed ants. The second step is to identify what kind of ant you're dealing with. Then, of course, you need to fight back. Let this guide help you.

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants, which are typically black and ¼ to ½ inch long, are common pests throughout North America. While they don’t actually eat wood, these pests subsist on a diet of sugar and protein, so they'll happily consume everything from cookie crumbs to dog food.

The worrying thing about carpenter ants, though, is that they tunnel through wood to create their nests, causing structural damage to your home, particularly when the infestation is a heavy one. Carpenter ants are most active after sunset and, since they aren't especially afraid of humans, can often be seen out and about. 

Odorous House Ants

Odorous house ants are a common type of ant that, when crushed, releases an unpleasant odor reminiscent of rotten coconut. These ants are medium-sized and have smooth, dark brownish black bodies with lighter, honey-hued legs. 

Odorous house ants often create nests in bricks or wall cracks from which to launch their household invasions. You are most likely to find them prowling your floors and countertops in search of food. 

Pavement Ants

Extremely common in residential settings, pavement ants are small and vary in color from brown to black, with lighter colored legs and antennae. As their name suggests, they like to build their mounds in pavement cracks.

They don't stay outdoors all the time, though, as these pests will invade indoor spaces when foraging for food and sometimes take up residence beneath floors or in the cracks of walls. What makes pavement ants even more of a nuisance is that, in addition to scouring your pantry and cabinets for food, they may bite. 

Pharaoh Ants

Tiny pharaoh ants are probably the top nuisance of all ant species (with the possible exception of fire ants). Ranging in color from light yellow-tan to reddish-brown with darker colored backsides, they are found throughout the U.S. and prefer to nest inside the home.

Pharaoh ants aren't picky about what they eat; while they prefer sweets, they will eat pretty much anything edible, including meat and other insects. Because they form a colony that consists of multiple nests with multiple queens, the best way to control a pharaoh ant infestation is to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

Argentine Ants

While a single Argentine ant is tiny in size, their overall colony size is massive. They have adapted to living in urban areas of the southern U.S. and particularly California. Nests belonging to these light to dark brown ants can be found underneath wood, debris, or mulch, as well in cavities and at the bases of trees and shrubs. 

A single colony can consist of multiple nests built around an existing nest and may contain hundreds of queens. In fact, one colony can become large enough to cover an entire city block! Argentine ants are also extremely aggressive, and have been known to conquer other nearby ant colonies. They seek shelter inside homes during weather extremes (very wet or very dry). As with pharaoh ants, the best way to control Argentine ants is to prevent an infestation. 

Sugar Ants

Sugar ants aren't a species of ants; it's just a generic term for any ant that prefers to go after sweets, including the obvious sugar, but also foods like candy, cake, fruit, syrup, honey, and even sweet soft drinks. This includes little black ants, carpenter ants, pavement ants, pharaoh ants, and many more. 

Some of these ants prefer to stay outdoors and only come inside for a food raid, but others will make a comfy home inside yours. Since they're united by their love of sweet treats, these ants can be avoided by making sure any sweet foods are properly sealed and stored. Keep in mind that sweets aren't the only food source for some sugar ants, so it's a good idea to look into your specific ant for more information.

Fire Ants

Fire ants are terrible pests that plague southern states. With their red coloring and large mounds, these ants are hard to mistake. Though small, their stings can be extremely painful. Fire ants prefer to remain outside, but they may enter indoors in order to seek food and water if they discover an easy entry point.

Prevent Future Ant Infestations

Typically, ants require a multi-step approach and a bit of patience to stop the invasion and kill the colony. You can try smashing individual ants where they pop up, but they'll just be back—in even bigger numbers. Your approach will be different depending on whether your ant problem is indoors or outdoors, and fire ants require their own treatment process for control.

Once you've controlled the ants in your home, take a few steps to keep them from coming back:

• Caulk or seal up any cracks you can find. This includes checking window frames, screens, door frames, and your foundation.
• Fix leaky pipes that could be providing the ants with a water source. 
• Routinely clean up crumbs and sticky food residue.
• Store food—especially sugars and sweet stuff—in sealed containers. 
• Create a bug barrier with Ortho® Home Defense® Max Indoor Insect Barrier with Extended Reach Comfort Wand®, which kills and prevents ants including argentine, carpenter, pavement, pharaoh, and sugar ants. 

For more tips on killing and controlling ants, click on any of the ant articles linked above, or check out How to Get Rid of Ants in Your House and How to Get Rid of Ants in the Kitchen.