Ant at a Glance
Who: Ant (Formicidae)
What: Small social insects that live in underground colonies
When: Year-round, although most activity is during late Spring through Summer.
Where: From temperate forests to dense jungle to suburban gardens – and homes.
Prevention: Keep clean. Wipe down surfaces, keep food sources in containers and clear the sink of dishes.
The Ant
Ants are social insects that typically live in colonies consisting of female workers, male drones and one or more queen. They vary in size and shape depending on location and role in the colony. Over 1000 species are known to live in the United States alone, with an estimated 21000 species worldwide. Although they are considered pests, only a few species invade homes or cause agricultural problems.
Habitat
Ants are widespread across the globe and can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Colonies may have as few as ten individuals or as many as a million in a single colony. There are more than 220000 species of ants living on almost every landmass on Earth. Nests vary depending on location and are usually found underground, but not all species build them.
Ants attack and defend themselves by biting or stinging. Fire ants in particular are a problem for home-owners – nothing is worse than accidentally treading on a fire-ant nest with bare feet in the summer! Stings from these ants are also dangerous to hypersensitive people.
Ants in Arkansas
Arkansas is home to over a hundred ant species (a comprehensive list can be found here!), some of which were accidentally imported. Although some species are considered a pest when they enter your home or building, a majority of ant species are actually beneficial to humans by aerating the soil and suppressing other pest populations. Here in Arkansas, nuisance ants include odorous house ants (usually black or brown) and fire ants (reddish brown). They rarely cause serious problems, although fire ants are known for their nasty sting (in rare cases, severe allergic reactions are known to occur).
