NJ Ants: Types, Habitats, and How to Keep Them Away

Color: Light to dark brown.

Size: 1/8 to ¼ inch.

Habits: Large colonies with many trails. Feed on a wide variety of foods including honeydew.

Habitat: Open yards or along foundations and other structural edges. Seldom nest indoors.

Threat: No threat to human health.

Prevention: Eliminate moisture sources

Color: Common species all black. Some species are rust-red and black.

Size: The most common species is 1/4 inch or larger. Any black ant in New Jersey that is black and larger than 1/4 inch is a carpenter ant. Some minor species are smaller.

Habits: Usually nests outdoors in hollow trees or other cavities. Will hollow out wood but do not feed on it. Will nest indoors under insulation, wall cavities, and other natural voids. If wood is attacked to create a nest site, the wood is usually softened by water and decaying fungi. Feed on other insects and honeydew from aphids. Will forage up to 100 yards for food. Red and black species seldom nest indoors.

Habitat: Wooded areas. Usually nest outdoors but sometimes nest indoors in high moisture areas. May forage indoors for water during dry, summer periods.

Threat: May cause some damage during nest building but damage is usually restricted to a local area in a structure.

Prevention: Do not store firewood against buildings. Cut tree limbs back so ants can’t reach the building overhead. Repair leaks to keep structural elements dry.

Color: Yellow to red-brown.

Size: Swarmers 3/8 inch.

Habits: Lives underground. Workers are seldom seen. Feed on honeydew from root-feeding aphids. Swarms indoors in late winter and early spring. Smells like citronella when crushed.

Habitat: Underground.

Threat:  None.

Prevention: None. Vacuum up swarmers.

Color: Workers and soldiers translucent white. Swarmers are brown.

Size: Workers and soldiers approximately ¼ inch.

Habits: Feed on dry cellulose products. Produce 6-sided pellets the size of poppy seeds and push them out of infested wood.

Habitat: Not native to New Jersey. May be shipped in with infested picture frames, furniture, and other wood products. Cannot survive outdoors in New Jersey. Need no soil contact.

Threat: Damage wood at a rate slower than do subterranean termites but can cause significant damage over time.

Prevention: Inspect wood products imported from warm climates for exit holes.

Color: Black.

Size: 1/16 inch.

Habits: Nest indoors and out. Feed on a variety of foods.

Habitat: Almost anywhere.

Threat: No threat to man or his property.

Prevention: Eliminate moisture sources.

Color: Brown to black.

Size: 1/16-1/8 inch.

Habits: Primarily sweet feeders.

Habitat: Nests indoors and out.

Threat: No threat to human health.

Prevention: Eliminate moisture sources

Color: Dark brown.

Size: 1/8 inch.

Habits: Nest in the ground. Feed on almost anything.

Habitat: Usually nest under concrete structures such as sidewalks and building slabs.

Threat: Pose no health threat do not damage structures.

Prevention: Eliminate moisture conditions.

Color: Golden yellow to red.

Size: 1/16 inch.

Habits: Well-defined trails. Large colonies with many queens. Cannot survive outdoors in New Jersey during winter. Feeds on a wide variety of foods.

Habitat: A tropical species that is transported to New Jersey from time to time. Most common in multiple-family housing units probably because one tenant brought them in and they then spread. Difficult to see because of the small size.

Threat: No health threats documented. Can consume large quantities of food due to the large numbers of workers in a colony.

Prevention: Inspect items shipped in from southern climates.

Pharaoh ants, with their golden yellow to red color and well-defined trails, can seem intimidating as they invade homes and businesses. These tiny yet persistent invaders often form large colonies with multiple queens, making them difficult to eradicate. Their presence in your kitchen or pantry can be quite unsettling, but fear not – a local ant exterminator can swiftly and effectively handle the situation. Just call Environmina Pest Control to ensure these pesky ants are completely eliminated.