Michigan Ant Indentification

Effective ant control often requires finding and treating the colony. The first step in eliminating an ant infestation in your home is to identify the species of ant.

Acrobatic Ants

The acrobat ant gets its common name from raising its abdomen over its thorax and head when disturbed. These ants, which are actually several species, will bite on occasion and will give off a repulsive odor when disturbed.

Identification

Color: Vary from light brown to dark brown
Size: 1/16 to 1/8 inch long
Characteristics: Heart-shaped abdomen

Carpenter Ants

Carpenter ants are one of the largest and most common ants in Michigan. Unlike termites, they only nest in wood and do not eat it. Outdoors, they commonly nest in hollow trees and stumps. Learn More >

Identification

Color: Black, sometimes with reddish or yellowish decoration
Size: 3.4 to 13 mm long
Characteristics: Large mandibles

Little Black Ants

Little black ants are a native species found throughout the United States.

Identification

Color: Black or jet black
Size: 1.5 – 4mm
Characteristics: The ant waist is two-segmented, have no spines, thorax is unevenly rounded

Pavement Ants

Pavement ants invade buildings while foraging for food. Nests are outdoors under stones, along curbs or in cracks of pavement. They can nest indoors in walls and under floors. Learn More >

Identification

Color: Light brown to black, appendages lighter than rest of body
Size: 2.5 to 3 mm long
Characteristics: Parallel lines on head and thorax

Pharaoh Ants

Pharaoh ants can take advantage of artificial heating in buildings to survive the winter. Infestations commonly occur in food service areas. They will nest in well-protected and hidden areas throughout a structure, but they can also nest outdoors in lawns or gardens in warm climates.

Identification

Color: Light yellow bodies with red and black markings on abdomen
Size: 2mm long
Characteristics: Small and yellow

Odorous House Ants

Odorous ant nests are found in a great variety of situations. Inside buildings, they are often found nesting in the walls or beneath the floor. They are most likely to invade buildings during rainy weather. Odorous ants travel in trails, foraging day and night.

Identification

Color: dark brown or black with a node on their petiole (which is hidden by their abdomens)
Size: 2.4 – 3.3mm long
Characteristics: When their bodies are crushed, the smell of rotten coconut is emitted

Need Ant Control Services? Call Pest Masters!

We’ve provided pest control services in the Metro Detroit area since 1987, so nobody knows the local landscape for pests like Pest Masters.

Our technicians are trained and have the proper equipment to safely remove ants from your home and property.

Rest assured that we’ll correctly identify the type of ant that’s bugging you, create and execute a customized plan to remove them and ensure they don’t return. If they come back, we come back. No charge!

Contact us at (800) 934-4770 for the safest and most effective pest control available in your area.