Ants are actually the most common household pests in the United States. Thre are over 1 million ants for every human being on earth and over 12,000 different species! Some of them we see all the time and others we don’t. Here is a list of 4 different types of ants, common to the Greater New York area and what they might do differently than other ants.
#1 Odorous House Ant: This ant gets its name from the putrid smell it emits when crushed. They prefer sweets as well as high protein foods like meat and cheese. They easily contaminate human food supplies and will travel indoors in large numbers.
#2 Pavement Ant: They earned their name because the nest in cracks in driveways and under sidewalks, piling the resulting dirt in mounds on top of the pavement. These ants eat almost anything! However they do prefer sweet and greasy foods as well as other insects. They can both sting and become a real nuisance when large groups invade kitchens or patios.
#3 Cornfield Ant: Rarely found inside homes, cornfield ants build crater like nests outside but they will often scavenge in homes for sweet foods and may bite to defend themselves.
#4 Pharoah Ant: These ants also like sweet and greasy/fatty foods. They are often found indoors and once a nest has been established, they are difficult to eradicate. They spread the bacteria that causes staph infections and when their colony is disturbed, they readily split up, creating a bigger infestation. Although they do not bite, they can enter open wounds easily due to their small size and preference for humid, hard to access areas in hospitals and rest homes.
#5 Carpenter Ant: When threatened, they will bite with their powerful jaws and sometimes even spray an acid onto the bite mark which causes a burning sensation. Known for their ability to eat through wood and tunnel their way through. They also will build a nest with what they excavate. They don’t eat the wood like a termite does they use it to build their nests. These are definitely a type of ant that you want to look for in your home, since they can do damage to any wood structure.
#6 Red Imported Fire Ants: Fire ants usually build large mounds in open areas and feed on things like young plants and seeds. The way that a fire ant bites is different than most other ants. Fire ants only use their bite to get a grip and then they sting and inject poison. This is also why their bite tend to burn the person or animal that it bites. They also are known for their ability to make it through many extreme types of weather. They are also one the most aggressive types of ants there is.

A couple of other interesting ants include:
#7 Thief Ant: This ant is known for stealing from other broods of ant colonies. They tend to set up their nests near another type of ant and use their skills as a thief away foods that they want. They usually like to go for more fatty or greasy foods. They are attracted to meats and grease. These are one of the smallest types of ants and can be a real pain to get rid of if they happen to invade your home.
#8 Leafcutter Ants: These guys get their name for the habits that they keep. They use their pincers to cut a piece of leaf off that they can carry back to their nest. They will then chew up the leaf and use the partially chewed leaf as a way to grow fungus which the colony will feed on. This will allow these ants an easier way to feed the colony when the weather seems to be getting bad.

Even though ants are typically referred to as beneficial insects, as they help the eco-system by nutrient recycling and feeding on other pests or dead animals, we don’t want them to invade our homes and businesses. No matter what type of ant you find in your New York premises, call Abele Exterminating to rid them from your property. We can properly determine what species of ant(s) you are dealing with and formulate an appropriate plan of action as treatment methods vary depending on the type of ant.