Types of Common Local Ants

It seems that most of Oklahoma is drying out from the unseasonably rainy summer that we had this year. With the higher temperatures and the ground water drying up, you’re likely to notice an influx of ants marching into your home looking for a new water source. You might start to see them in your kitchen sink or even your bathroom shower.

People are always curious about the types of ants they’re dealing with. Sometimes you find little red ants and other times you’ll see bigger black ants. There are close to 1,000 different ant species found on the North American continent, but luckily in Oklahoma we usually only see about 10 different types of nuisance ants and only a handful of those are more frequently seen in our clients’ homes. Here is a list of the top 5 most commonly found ants in the areas that we service (Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Bixby, Jenks, Oklahoma City, Edmond, and surrounding communities) and how you can identify them:

Pavement Ants

Medium-sized, about 1/8 inch long, varies in color from light brown to black with lighter legs and antennae, head and thorax have longitudinal, parallel grooves, and they move slower then other types of ants.

Odorous House Ants

Also medium-sized, about 1/8 inch long, brown to black in color, they release a rotten coconut smell then crushed.

Pharaoh Ants

Small in size, approximately 1/16 inches long, and are yellow, light brown or red in color, the tip of their abdomen is darker than the rest of their bodies.

Field (Formica) Ants

The size of the workers ranges from 4 to 8 mm and their coloration includes yellow, red, black or, more commonly, a combination of red and black.

Carpenter Ants

Large in size, ranging from 1/2 to 1 inch long, and they range in color from yellow to black, but the most common species are darker in color.

Are you noticing ant trails leading into your home this summer? Having difficulties getting the little buggers to vacate the premises? Then call the experts at controlling ants, Emtec Pest Control, toll free at 800-522-4707. We’ll get those ants marching away from your home in no time!