Most of us know the joy of accidentally stepping onto one of their nests and the resulting discomfort felt for days afterward. The worker ants, all females, are usually not more than ¼ of an inch long and can be a mix of black to red in color. The queen is the center of the colony and can live up to eight years while providing up to 1,500 offspring per day. The stinging sensation felt by one of these ants is a toxin that the ants inject into the skin which is not only painful but can be deadly to small animals or sensitive individuals. Fire ants like to nest in damp soil so be particularly mindful of them under rocks or near any area of your yard that receives ample water. They are also attracted to electronic equipment and are the leading cause of traffic lights shorting out in Texas, causing over $140 million in yearly damage. If there is little shelter available, they will form mounds in any open space which can go as deep as six feet. They like to eat small insects, plants, or seeds, but have been known to collectively attack and kill small animals as well. These ants are extremely resilient and can even survive floods by forming a ball with the workers on the outside and the queen in the middle. A thorough application of ant control product must be done to each mound to ensure that the queens do not survive. A pest repellent barrier is also helpful to keep foraging drones from making their way into the home. 

Odorous House Ant     

These ants emit a sweet smell when crushed (like banana Laffy Taffy to me) and will eat almost any household food available (particularly sugar). They also prefer to nest under rocks and in damp soil, but are not aggressive. Although these ants are particularly tough to squish, they are highly susceptible to most common pesticides.

Pharaoh Ant

These ants are yellow or light brown in color and are almost transparent. They prefer dark, warm areas near hot water pipes and heating tapes, and can often be found in bathrooms or kitchens. It is not uncommon to see these ants coming out of your electric outlets as they often colonize in wall voids as well.  Pharaoh ants can be extremely difficult exterminate due to the budding nature of their colonies with each colony containing multiple queens. If the main colony detects a threat, the queens will bud out and form multiple new colonies as a defense mechanism. This can turn a minor nuisance into and major infestation. Slow acting baits and non-repellant pesticides are the most effective form of control for these ants.