Origin:
Native to North America, and primarily a pest problem in the Midwest to the Northeast states, although it appears to occur from California to Florida as well.
Biology:
This is primarily a soil nesting species, but nests may be under porches or other debris close to a structure, and the workers forage within the structure for protein or sugar substances. Natural foods include other insects as well as honeydew. Nest openings can be distinguished by the noticeable low mound of soil, about 8 to 10 inches in diameter, in lawns or open areas.
Identification:
This is a large ant, and similar to Field or Carpenter ants. However, it has no noticeable ocelli between the compound eyes and it has a distinct dip in the top of the thorax. It is a single node ant, a small circle of hairs in around the anal opening, and the color is dark brown to black. Workers are about 10 mm long.
Characteristicts Important to Control:
Control of most ants includes correction of the attractions that drew them to a property, including harborage sites, food sources, and moisture conditions. Elimination of insects that provide protein or honeydew sources reduces ant foraging in an area, very important for this species, and cleanup of unnecessary debris or objects on the soil that provide harborage eliminates nesting. Ant bait products in granular, liquid, or gel formulations can be highly effective if the ants accept the bait. If the visible mounds of this species can be found it can be treated directly with a dust or liquid insecticide.
