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How to Manage Pests

Key to Identifying Common Household Ants

Southern Fire Ant

Identifying caracteristics

• Worker ants are polymorphic; vary in size from 1/8-inch long to more than 1/4-inch long
• Large eyes
• Amber-colored head and thorax with a mostly black abdomen; body covered with golden hairs
• Petiole with 2 nodes; no spines on thorax; 2 teeth on the front of head
• 10-segmented antennae with a 2-segmented club
• Flattened nests

Behavior

• Feed on insects, sweet foods, grease, proteins, seeds, almonds, young tree bark, and honeydew
• Active in the morning and early evening and do not trail
• May swarm out of nests if disturbed and can inflict painful stings

Nest type and size

• Nest in small mounds or in patches of loose soil near moisture
• Flattened, irregular craters with one to many openings; located usually in warm, sunny areas
• May be found in wood or under rocks and boards
• Indoors, nest in wall voids, crawl spaces, and under carpets
• Colonies very large with up to 10,000 individuals and multiple queens

See also, southern fire ant quick management tips.