Top 7 Ant Species We See in Southeast Texas

When people think about ants, what often comes to mind is the image of a trail of them crossing a counter toward food canisters or a cartoon of them carrying food items away from a picnic.Those are both accurate depictions! But, what homeowners may not realize is the diversity of ant species, which worldwide amounts to 12,000 types. Here in the Houston area, there are seven species we commonly see in our pest control operations:Pharaoh Ants (Monomorium pharaonic):These are also referred to as sugar ants because that is what they like to eat. They are also called pissants, likely because they secrete formic acid, which smells like urine. (The term pissants also became an insult to deride a person as insignificant. Of course, that makes little sense to anyone dealing with a significant infestation of Pharaoh ants!) We use a gel to attract them and then they carry a poison back to the colony’s queen. No colony survives without a queen. Pharoah ants are often found in kitchens and bathrooms (there is sugar in toothpaste, alcohol in mouthwash that breaks down into sugar). They will feed on such sugars in a bathroom drain. Drains also provide water and a location for laying eggs.Rover Ants (Brachymyrmex patagonicus): These are sometimes mistaken for Pharaoh ants because they are similar in stature. They also hang out on countertops to reach food and their preference is oils. (They also like pet food, so do not leave kibble in bowls) Many kitchens nowadays have darker granite countertops that mask food residue, including drops of cooking oil, so people might not realize the extent to which they are attracting Rover ants. Minor improvements in housekeeping, such as always wiping down counters after food preparation, can lessen the likelihood of inviting ants. We cannot spray a food preparation area with insecticide, so we use a gel treatment again to deploy the poison. Gel can be applied to one area of a wall, such as by a backdoor, to attract ants and disseminate the treatment back to the queen of their colony.Crazy Ants (Nylanderia fulva):Typically, these are found outside of structures and dwellings, but they are attracted to the tight spaces around and within electronics and enter homes and businesses to get to electrical equipment. Once inside, they will chew on wiring insulation and then get electrocuted. In the process, the dying ants emit an emergency pheromone to alert others to their danger and even more crazy ants will pick up on this call to arms and also enter the area, which often leads to electrical shorts. The crazy ant was first detected in Texas by a man named Tom Rasberry and, for a while, they were also called rasberry or raspberry ants. They actually originated in Peru and are also known as tawny ants because of their coloring. Outside, crazy ants actually displace the notorious fire ants (see below).Fire ants (Solenopsis geminate):While these live in the landscape, fire ants have an ecological effect on other pests, such as roaches and termites, because they eat them! This is why they are referred to a predacious. If your home has roaches or termites, it’s unlikely fire ants are right nearby. Their stings inflict a notoriously painful burning sensation on people and, for some, cause an allergic reaction. They first bite the skin to get a grip and then unleash an acid called solenopsin with their stings. During flooding events, Houstonians know to be on the lookout for balls of fire ants floating in high waters. Once they come into contact with an object, surface or person, they will unball and likely sting. We urge caution during flooding for people and pets for this reason.Ghost Ants (Tapinoma melanocephalum):These are wall nesting ants and their name derives from their hidden presence. Once they get into homes, it can be initially challenging to, ahem, exorcise them because first you need to determine where they all are.Odorous Ants (Tapinoma sessile): When these are killed, they smell like coconuts. One of their favorite foods is a sugary substance secreted by aphids, the garden pest. They also like grease and sugars and can be found in homes.Carpenter Ants (Camponotus spp):These are easily recognized by their large size relative to other ants in our region. Their length can run from a quarter-inch to a half-inch. The term carpenter refers to their ability to cut into wood with their large jaws. They are wood destroying insects (WDI), but unlike termites, they don’t actually eat wood. Instead, they burrow in to nest within the wood. We often see them coming within a residence if there is an attractive nesting place, such as decorative wood supports touching the ground under a patio cover or porch. The most preferred treatment for carpenter ants and crazy ants is a termiticide (termite poison). Ants’ social behavior is similar to termites in that you need to kill a queen to kill their colonies.Common Mistakes with Ant Treatment:The biggest mistake we see is spraying an area where ants are seen. Again, you don’t want to spray insecticides all over an area where people prepare food, brush their teeth, etc. Besides, spraying only kills some of the ants you see and does nothing to hamper the growth of a colony. Moreover, DIY solutions are a mistake. A licensed, expert pest control operator, such as All Solutions All Pests, will properly identify which species of ants are present and safely treat your home.When you have ants, you can rely on us. Call ASAP at 832.870.BUGS.