P. G. Koehler, R. M. Pereira and J. L. Castner
2
Acrobat ant, Crematogaster spp. (Plate 1). Acrobat ants
are black, 3 mm long, and hold their abdomens over their heads when
disturbed. They usually nest outdoors in dead wood, tree holes and
firewood, but can nest in wall voids and insulation. They crawl into
buildings around windows and electric cables. Workers are
monomorphic (one form). Colonies are polygyne (many queens).
Argentine ant, Iridomyrmex humilis (Plate 2). It is usually
dark-brown. It is 2 mm to 3 mm long. It usually nests in exposed or
covered soil under logs, debris, firewood and mulch. The ants forage
in trails of many workers along sidewalks and foundations, and into
buildings, where they forage for food. It has one node on the
petiole. Workers are monomorphic and colonies are polygyne.
Bigheaded ant, Pheidole megacephala (Plate 3). Workers are
either major or minor workers; major workers have very large heads.
They nest in the soil under logs, mulch, firewood and next to the
foundation of buildings. They often trail along sidewalks and the
sides of buildings. They often forage indoors for food and water.
The ant is yellowish-brown and is 2 mm to 3 mm long. There are two
nodes on the petiole, and colonies are polygyne.
Crazy ant, Paratrechina longicornis (Plate 4). It is black
and is 3 mm long. It has long legs, and workers move erratically.
Colonies are usually found in both moist and dry environments.
Outdoors, nests are often in wood, tree holes and in mulch. Indoors,
nests are often in wall voids and under stored items. The ant has
one node on the petiole. Workers are monomorphic, and colonies are
polygyne.
Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus abdominalis floridanus
(Plate 5). It is a large
ant, 5 mm to 10 mm long, with a yellowish-red thorax and black
abdomen. It nests in mulch, logs and in wall voids of houses. It can
hollow out wood in order to make its nest, depositing wood pieces
nearby. The ant has one node on the petiole. Workers are polymorphic
(many sizes), and colonies are monogyne (one queen).
Ghost ant, Tapinoma melanocephalum (Plate 6). This ant is 1
mm long with a black head and thorax, and clear abdomen and legs. It
usually nests outdoors and forages indoors. The ant has a musty odor
when squashed. It has a high need for moisture and is often seen in
kitchens and bathrooms. The petiole has one node and is hidden by
the abdomen. Workers are monomorphic and colonies are polygyne.
Imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Plate 7). It is
reddish-brown and 3 mm to 6 mm long. Fire ants build large mounds in
open, sunny areas and can forage indoors. Workers can sting,
commonly causing a white pustule to form. The ant has two nodes on
the petiole. Workers are polymorphic, and colonies are usually
monogyne but sometimes polygyne.
Little fire ant, Wasmania auropunctata (Plate 8). It is
golden-brown and is 1 mm to 2 mm long. It nests in soil under logs
and debris. It can inflict a painful sting. It has two nodes on the
petiole. The head is covered with grooves. Workers are monomorphic
and colonies are polygyne.
Native fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (Plate 9). It is
reddish-brown to black and is 3 mm to 6 mm long. It builds
irregular, crater-shaped mounds in sunny areas. Workers can sting,
but no white pustule forms. They can inflict a painful sting when
disturbed. The ant has two nodes on the petiole. Workers are
polymorphic, and colonies are monogyne or polygyne.
Pharaoh ant, Monomorium pharaonis (Plate 10). It is
rust-colored and 2 mm long. It usually nests indoors (in wall voids,
refrigerator insulation, books, etc.). The ant has two nodes on the
petiole. Antennae are 12-segmented with a three-segmented club.
Workers are monomorphic and colonies are polygyne.
White-footed ant, Technomyrmex albipes (Plate 11) is a
relatively small (< 3 mm in length), black to brownish ant with
yellowish tibia and tarsi (feet) and a one-segmented waist. It nests
in many locations in the landscape and in the home, including under
leaf litter, under loose bark, within stems, rotten trunks or limbs,
in attics, under roof shingles, in wall voids, in cardboard boxes,
in the petiole bases of palms, in compost piles, under rocks, along
fence lines, and in outdoor furniture. A colony may be made up of a
million individuals, nesting at several locations.